First Aid Journal 1902

FIRST AID •

The JO\Jrf\al devoted to }\mb\Jlaf\ce Work .

EDIT ED BY HEATON C. HOW ARD, L.R.C.P. LOND., M.R.C.S, ENG. No. 91.-VOL VIII. StatJOners' Hail. JANUARY, 1902 , PRICE ONE PENNY.

TO OU R READERS,

As it is the earne s wish a nd desire of the new Proprietors to m a ke this oumal as attracti ve and en tertaining as possible, correspond en ts in all parts of the cOllntry are as k ed to give it all the help they C'ln, Superintenden ts of Corps and Officers of Divisions of the St, John Ambulance Brigade, and Officers of the Volunteer :-'Tedical Staff Corps, and the Volunteer Am bulance School of In struction, will, it is h open, do their best to make it k now n amongst the members of their re:;pective organisation", anci will also send for publication their officia l news and notices

TER\lS OF SUBSCRIPTION.

For 12 months, IS, 6d., post free, to be sent to thE: Publishers Dale & Reynold s, +6, (Jaunon :,treet Landen, E.C. Telegraphic Addre ss- TWENTYFO UR, LO :--lDON Telephone No, - 5477 BA NK, )"J3re\)ities.

TUE ma.lTia.ge of Sil' H erbert Pen'ott, the pOlmhu SccletRl'y nf the Onler of St. John RDd Chief Secretary of the Ambulance D epm-tment of the Ol'del', with the pl'ogl'ess of which his life bRS been so indissolubly connected, is quite the event of the year to many in the ambulance wodd. Those of our r ea ders who had the good fOl-tune to be present at this prett.y wedding, and from all ace-ounts it ,ya s quite one of the prettiest weddings, state that what im]!ressed them most was the happy look on the bridegroom' s f<1.ce, and the charming and sympathetic face of his lH'icle, Th e bridal costullle and those of Jle1' attendant 'uite were also much admit'ed. Indeed nothing could have l)eon pretti er or more effective. The bridal costume was of ivoq satin, trimmed with choice old laG,e, a veil to correspond, fastenell with a cliamond star and peal'1 necklace, the gift of tIle bl'idegl'oom Tl1e bl'idebmnid s were effecti'lely ch'essec1 in pink, find erich carried a pompadonL' shephel'c1's cl'ook ; surely no b"i(le bad pl'ettiel'maids of honoUl', nor mnst the tvlO little pages who wel'e in attendance on the bride be fo1'O'otten. They were liO the manner bOl'n, and evidently impressed with the impol'tance of their position, a fact which was stl'ikingly app:u'ent whel'e one of the youthful cavaliel's let fall my Jady 's train His anxiety to l'etrieve his position was only equalled by the clever and stl'ateg ic way in which he nccomplislled his purpose. In conclusion we desire for Sil' Herb81,t a.nd his bl'ide lon g life and eyel'y happiness.

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U:be anb Blnbu(ance

SPECULATION is a lready rife as to what ambulancf! provision will be made in London on Lhe occasion of the f.orthcoming Coronation. or course the :Metropolitan Corps o f the St. John Ambulance Brigade will muster in full force on so historic an occasion, and we trust that the opportunity will be .to once m ore give the mem?erS, of tbe Provincial Corps and DIVISIOn s the o pportunIty of working In, conj unction with the:r London Comrades The strength ?f the Bngade has now so increased that a large number from the provinces should be privileged to attend, and !n. sl:ould certainly be includ ed members of the Pro,/Incml Nurs1l1!! DlvlslOns. \Ve hear that sevl.ral Volunteer B ea rer Companies have already offered their services for duty on the occasion and have been accepted We presume their fUllction; will be to look after the troops, a large num ber of whom, considering the length of the route on the second da>r, mu st necessarily line the slreets.

U:be $t. 30hn tlnlbll(anCe 113rigabe in 1895 anb 'tRow.

A correspondent in the country who has watch ed with admiration the sple.ndid work done by the St. J ohn .-\mbulance Briga de at lhe front dunng the present war reminds us that in J anuary, 1895, thi s journal drew to the nece ssi ty for taking some ste ps to utilise thi s The leader. is too lo ng to print in full, but lIe gil'e an extract, as It may pro\'e of Interest at the present time to old as well as new readers.

"In the event of our ,'olunteer Army being obliged to take the field, :: present would, we belie l'e, prol'e quJte incapable of coping wIth the work whIch would be thrown upon It and the fact of its "havir.g little or no transport service would only'make its inadequacy "all the more apparent; and it therefore seems o us advisable to " consider whether means could not be taken to make use of some "other material which we have at hand, ready for an emerO'ency of this :: kin,d: refer, of course, to the St. John Brigade, whIch might and ought to be brought more into touch with our "auxiliary forces. The members are now carefully trained in all the "branc he s appertaining to the higher grades of first aid, they are "regularly drilled on the same lines as their military brethren, and " their services being constantly requisitioned for ambulance duty on " the occasion of large public gatherings, they are thoroughly grounded "in all details connected with the transport of the sick and injured.

" The I\ursing Sisters, too, many of whom are actively engaged in "district nursing, would prove of the greatest possiPle assistance to

" the I\ ursing Sisters attached to the Army :\ledical Department. We

" r emember some years since that Lord "rnl se ley, referring to the in"estimable value of the work of the St. John Ambulance Association, "remarked-' One could not help thinking that the time might one , ,' day arrive when the dire necessity of war might be seen on their " 'olV n shores, even in the centre of civilisation in which they now " 's to od; and if that time should ever arrive it would be of the greatest " 'ad\'anlage to have a number of men and women trained in this '" valuable work, and able to offer to the c\rmy ::'Iledical Dep;, rtment ", their sen ices, to act as nurses and orderlIes in loo king after the " 'sick and wounded.' W o rd s like these, coming from such an emi"nent authority as Lord \\'olseley, were regarded at the time as a "grand tribute to the unselfi sh wo rk carried on by the Association. " Having- conducted and witnessed many of the large campaigns that " have taken place in our own times, L ord \Volseley knew full well the " value of the services which are rendered by the Ambulance Corps, , both regular and voluntary, during the progress and at the termina"tion of a battle."

The wheels of the \Var Office grind very slowly, but as a proof that they have at last realised the value of our s uggestion we are pleased to record the fact that Bearer Companies in connection with the St. John A'11bulance Brigade are already furmed or an: in co urse of formation at the following places :-Preston, Bolton, Oldham, Sheffield, and r orthampton.

Bntbl1(ance.

LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN RATLWAY.-.-\ smoking concert was held on December 9th at the Waverley H otel, Salford, by the mem bers of the 0 dsall Lane Station class for the presen tation of certificates, &c. The enjoyment of the evening was enhanced by the presence of ::'IIr. Linaker, district superintenden,t, Dr. .\lcLaren, inspector of the class, 1'\ lcholson, statl?n master, Excbange StatIOn, ;\[r. fa ber ner local chief foreman, '\lr. PIckles, district lllspecLOr, and l\tIr. J, W, of the superintendent's orfice, district secretary The chair was taken at 7.45 pm. by ;\1r. T. 'iV. Eddowes (night stationmaster O rdsa ll Lane), '\Ir. J. L>ickinson (su perintendent's office), actinO' 'as f>ianist a.we a pianoforte solo, which was rendered very J\lr. J <.;nes sang the" Flying Dutchma n, " l\Ir. C. Walk er Jolly Good Fellow," and as encore" Scientific Man." 1\1r. Linaker then distributed the certtficates, badges , &c" and 111 dOing so pointed out the need for a knowledge of ambulance work among rail-

FIRST AID. [ January, 1902.

war men especially. a desire that tbe ;:ime was far distam when such knowledge would hac to be brought in;:o practical use. The class commenced witb a membersbip of 3 , but owing; to "arious causes only 19 were able to present themsel"es for examination. Ie was. hQ\,e\·er. to knoll' thar tbe wbole of rbe 19 pas,ed creditably, and brought great credit on Dr. :.\IcLaren who had so ably ino:ructed tbe class. After the distribution :'\lr. Linaker pre:;ented Dr. .\IcLaren witb an ebo;!y ane: silver mounted walklil<Y-scick. sui;:a!-''y IDscribed. and an amber and sih'er mounted cigarette holder to '\Ir. H. Orchard. first-class staff sergeant of the R.:\.:.\LC., who had Assisted in in5:ruc,ing the class. After replies from the recipients songs were again indulged in. and a \'ery pleasant e"ening spent.

:'\lIDLA:"D RAIL\\'AY.-There was a laT!;e meeting of 1Iidland Railway employees held in tbe .\jidland Institute, Derby, on qth :\'0\ ember. ur:der the auspices of the .\Iidland Railw'ay Ambulance Committee, "hen the medals and certificates a\\'arded for special skill shown in rendering" first a:d" to the the injured Iyere distributed by '\1r. R A. Allison. '\1idland Railw'ay director, and chairman of the locomoti,'e and carriage and wagon committees. The meeting was presided ol er by '\fr: C. H. Jones, the chairman of the ambulance committee. who. in his opening remarks, said that at the meeting of the ambulance held after the directors' meetin!!, last .\[arch, it WfiS decided to baye a new chairman el'ery year. so that each departmenL should be represented in rurn. He went on to speak of the desire on the part of the the airectors to further tbe ambulance movement. and of the support they were according it. Tbe report was a very sa:is. factOry one, acd showed that tbe number of ambulan ce men had increased dUrIng the) ear to 6,,foo odd, or IO per ceDt of the whole s:aff. First aid had been rendered in about 650 cases, and, as tbey all knew. eyerything, e,'en life itself, depended on first aid Contin uing, he spoke of the .Jlidland men who had gone out to outh Africa :\0 less tban 63 had gone to the front, and 47 had been engaged in actual amoulance w·ork. Of these 35 had returned to the sen'ice of the .\lidland Railway, and the directors had decided to present tbem ali with an illuminated certificate, In conclusion '\1r. Jones paia a high trioute to .\[r. upon .whose shoulders. as secretary. a large amount of the work had necessanly fallen, and called upon bim to read the annual report. from ,,·hic!: it appeared tbat in accord:lDce with the resolution passed by the board of directOrs on I) th '\1arch. 190 I, the Ambulance .-\ward Committee has now become the mbulance Committee." "'ith power to deal generally with the am bulanc:e business of the .\Iidland Railway Company. One of duties of the committee is to, award .and. silver medals g:iYen by the company to tho,:,e \\',10 speCially dlstIng-UlSh rhemseh'es 10 ambulance work. To meet the difficulty in recognising good 'I'ork done by men who are already the possessors of gold and sih'er medals illuminated certificues, bearing- the signature of chairman of th'e company, are this year to be a warded for the first time. '\1r. Allison, in distributing the medals, &c spC'ke at some length upon the desirability of ambulance work for railwaymen,

:\lrnLA:"D RML\u.Y.:-On Thursday afternoon, the 5th December, there was a large gathenng at Stanley Hall, .Tunction Road. Hollowa.'. Lord Farre;, a director ?f the '\lidland Railway Compan)'. dlstnbuted certificates t? o,'er 300 railway men \"ho ha\'e passed rhe examination 10 connection with the Kentish Tow'n District Engineers' Department Ambulance Class. Lord Farrer. before the .distri?ution, expressed himself highly delighted at magnIfica.nt dlmenslOns of the. meeting before him, showing as it did the great IOterest tbe men took In ambulance work. The .\1idland railway was such a gigantic concern that the autborities d id not hal'e an opportunity of coming into personal contact with their employees, but tbey felt they ought to encourage the men in their ambulance work by every means in their power. Since 18 94 tbe number of classes throughont their system hdd grown from 208 to 1.500. In the St. i'ancras and Kentish Town districts there were 23 per cent. of .tbose in the engineering department who :l1.tended classes. HIS lordship then presented medallions and certificates to 218 men who had been successful in passing the examinations. Of these I59 had passed the first examination, 56 the re-examination and three the final.

Mrr:LA1\'D MAsBOROIJ?H.-Tbe annual concert and presentatIOn of medallions and certificates In connection with th :'Ifasborough Midland Ambulance Corps took place on pth Dec e b e in the St. George's Hall. Despite th e heavy there gOOd. attendance. The .\ Iayor D.L. Winter, J.P.) p resided and he ".as supported by D;. BaldWin '\1r. VV. Avill, and Councillor J In bls openIng ad.dress tbe .\1ayor spoke at length on Importance. of ambulance teachIng. He impressed upon tbose present that the object of ambulance kn.owledge was not to do the work which pr?perly belonged to medical man, but to render first aid until skilled help was Ambulance associ'ltions everywhere had rendered most useful serVice, and. by their means thousand; of lives had been spared, and needless in many other cases prevented The :\lasborough Midland RaIlway Ambulance Class, [or its size, had:

he belie,ed, done work equal to anr other association tn the kingdom. During the present year from ,0 to a cases bad ceen dealt wirh, and in tbe four years of the association's existence :!:!o cenificates and medallions had been presented. He was informed that some of the members had receil'ed first·class certificates. and other_ had <Yone to Denby to recei"e six siil'er medals and tll'O (old meaal::. These fact:: reflected the greatest credit on the \ssociation. and teEr fie.:! to the deep and intelligent interest taken in ,ne work. The .\layor a 150 alluded to the use that the '\\ar office had made of members of the 't, Jobn Ambulance Association in ,"outh Africa. and mentioned that one or two mem bers from .\Iasborougb had seen sen'ice in tbe W:H. (:\pplause). He concluded by wishing tbe association success. The certificates were afterwards presented Dr. Baldwin \"as afterwards the recipient of a pair of \'ases ior his work as instructor of the class. In his reply he said the centre was diftinctly proaressing-. The :'Ilidland Railway men as ambulance workers were far and allay the best in the district. .-\s to rbe Brigade question hI! did not see how they were going- to get one. Only £roo was required. and .ret there was but a solitary sub3cription promised. He \\'a5 yet "err hopeful of the ultimate carrying out of tbe scheme. The ,ote of thanks to tbe '\[ayor was accorded on the motion of Councillor Heminsley. seconded by '\lr. 'Y.

.-\l'ill. '\1r Holland .\I.P was an expeCleJ speaker. but the sno,,storm delayed his train, and when the meeting was half,yay through it was regarded as extremely doubtful if he would reach Rotherham in time. There was a ,'ery enjoyable concert programme, in which the Rawmarsh _-Eolian Quartette, :'lir. J, Bean, '\lr. Cyrii Harper, and .\laster ryril Harper took part.

CALEDO:\IA:-.' R,-HL,,'AY ::-lBL"LA:\CE BRTGADE,-.\fr. Robert .\Idler, general map.ager of the Caledonian Ra il wa)" presided on the 13 tb December, ol'er the annual fesril'al of tbe Stirling Corps of the Caledonian Railway Ambulance Brigade. There was a crowded audience. .\lr. .\Iiller was accompanied to the platform by a number of prominent railway officials and local gentlemen. In the course of a reminiscent speech, '\1r. .\Iiller expressed his great pleasure that the first occ<!sion of his presiding ol'er a meeting since bls appointment as gener::d manaO'er of the Caledonian Company should be at a meeting in his nati,'e row'n of Stirling. There \I'ere certain affections whicb formed part of one's being when one was young. These a ffections were associated with a man's home. with his school days, and his early companions, and the town of btirling, "'here he "'as born and where he sen'ed his apprenticeship, shared with the neighbouring \'illage of Bannockburn. ,,'bere he spent his boyhood. the early affection which could not be eradicated by any cit}' association, 'tirling was a place of many historical associations. but to him it "as more. It was to him a pla.:e·of flesb and blood. and if tbere was :lny on the face of this eanh which was a matter of fiesh and blood, of kindliness and and bel1eficent purpose, it was the .Ambulance ASSOCiation, under who e • auspices they had met that evening. (Cheers). A concert followed, and at the close .J[r. .\Iiller was accorded a be:u(r vote of thanks.

\Doluntecr tlll1bulancc Scbool of 3nstructio

11.

President: .\Iajor Andre\\' 1Iaclure, '·.D late London cottish RT Office: 23, Cambndge 'treet, Hyde Pa!k, W ORDERS:

Th e next Class for the training of Regimental Stretcher Bearers will be held at tbe Headquarters of the L ondon Scottish R.V., J ames S tree S W., by permission of Lieut.-Colonel E J. A. Balfour, Comm a ndi ng, and will commence on ::\Ionday, February 17th, at 8 p.m A p plicatio n Forms may be obtained of t\mbulance - Sergeant H. B. Bussell, 13, Gower Street, "·.C. November 26th, I90r.

(By Order) P B. GILE ,!".R.C.S. Drigade Lt -Colonel, Senior '\ledical Officer.

BOLTOX. - For some years past ambulance work in Bolton ha5 formed part of the fire brigade duties, the ambulance being kept at th e station and sent out on receipt of any req u est receiv ed by telephone. Bolton has now a thorough system of street telephones, and by breaking a glass anyone can talk down to the offi.:e and describe to the men in charge the spot where a fire or accident has occurred, and the needful help is at once sent. In the event of a n accident the case is treated by the firemen, all of whom ambulance first aid, but all cases are of course taken to the infirmary. The system has been in operation n Bolton for about three years, but the telephone equipment has only just been completed. Whell!ve r the tram system works the electric poles are utilised for carry ng the te lep h one wires to station,

marriagc of [01. Sir 1i)crbcrt <t. lPcrrott, :fSart.

The many friends of CoL He·ben Perro:t. :md :hey are will unite with us in according ,0 him a. d his charming bride our heaniest cong-ratula:ion3 on his mar iage. The man iage. whiCh was

S:. John. presen:ed i·' Herben \liih Eubs!an:ial che.:lue. The adminiEuatiye st:lff of the nrious Departments ihe e\'inced their appreciation of" their chief" by the of:1 c se cOOlaininO' 12 sil"er !:!ih .1nd enamel spoons emblem.1:ica: of hl5 family his:ory <,nd public The Deputy Commissioner .\Od staff oj X o. ,f District, \lith whom SIr Herter! 15 zenuine:y pOf ul.1r. <.Iso e\'inced their re6'ard by the rre5etlta:io'1 of. sil\er rose ho\\'1. Amongst the other numerO:Js presents were to the Bncle : irom the Bridegroom. pearl neck!. ce 11' J ea··rings. Gla1110nd l'enC:.1nt l11d b raoch. and diamond ring. :he l ri..)e·s d'amo ,I J S lf. ,i,mon locket. sui:e of bed·room iurni.u:e .5.:.c.. the Ilon. O. .\:. ur Fores:er. dre;:sing- bag with hammered s 'yer tialIli,1s: Fl,ser. diamond and 0;1J pendant ::nd earri ngs: rrincess Tea no. s her J t.nd :l11tic;ue sa:in '.1'00.1 tea :ray: the Du"e an..) f go d box: :\cleline Duchess cf Bedord. C:lse of tuttons: Lord and Lady Percy ::3:. '\i:lUJ'. jnmlrered wI 11-:1 spoon: tbe Earl oj DysJrt, diamond and pearl pel:Jal1l: LO"d "::::ltlley oi _-\lderle\'. pair of SJl"CI cal1(.i!eslicks: L Jy 'Yimcorne. ,'ellel .:a<e Lord Fores:er. gold-moun:ed bi:cui lox: and Lldy}·oreo:e;'.en,hOl!' ered Ir3me. The Bridegroom re.:eived: irom '\Ir. n PelT a and

solemnized at St. Peter's Church. Eaton 2quare. on Tuesday, DecemLer lotb, created a warm interest in the yarious dep:ulments of the Order of t. John, among the workers of which ir Herber! has made many and his confreres ha\e learned to estimate his genial and unaffected Durtes)' and bi- great kindness of heart, that it is, not surprising that the church was cro\\'ded with a thoroughly appreciati 'e congregation, all of \\'bom e"inced by the interest they took in the ceremony their desire that the union might be a yer)' happy one. The bride, .\ llss Ethel Luc), Hale, eldest daugbter of the late Captain .\larcus r'hre, R. "\" was accompanied to the cbUlch by her uncle, '\ Ir. Theodore H are, and was attended by t\\O p:lges and eight bridesmaids. The latter were lIIiss Hilda Hare (sister of the bride). the Hon. l\.hona H anbury - Tracey, Miss \\'enefryde Tollemache Scott, Miss i\ arguerite Tollemache, and M iss R ita 'Y hidborne (her cousins), l\l iss Ida Drum · mond, Vinifred Bevan, amI M iss Rosalind Bryce, 1I1 r. Hamil:on Gatliff acted a s best man to Sir Herbert. The officiating clergy were th e Rev. Edga r Sheppard, Sub-Dean of the Chapels R opl. and the R ev Prebendary H. W. " 'ebb - Peploe, \'icar of St. Paul's,Onskwsquare T he sen'ice \\'as fully choral, and the church was decorated with p alms and a variety of w hite flowers. The bride's mother held a reception after tbe ceremo n y at 20, Pr:nce's-gardens. and in the course of the afternoon 8ir Herbert a nJ Lady PerrOtl left for Germany The P ri nc e of Vales, as Grand P rior, anJ the Chapter of the Order of

COLO:"o1EL lIZ HERBERT PEIo:ROT r. (Phu/us br JIll II II all 1 Fv,l'),

Tbe portraits of ir Herbert and Lady Perrott are by kind permission of the Edit.or of" The: CI/l'!:d FI Wid. Fraser, old silver fruit epergne, household linen. and cbeque; \ 'iscount and \ 'iscountess Knutsford, sih'er bowl; Lord and Lady .Jlostyn poslalletter-box; the Marquis of Bread:llbane, c:lTd and L d LI tt k pOI tlble \\,rltlD'" case; and sO \'ereig-n case; Lord and a y anga oc '" Lord and LaJy mherst of Hackney, embroidered foot·stool.

FIRST AID.

JANUARY 1, 1902.

$t. flnbrew 's flmbulance flssociatioll.

January, 1902.J FIRST AID

lPortrait

$t. 301111 'Eltnblllance tlssociation.

A CIUXGE OF PROPRIETORSIIIP ,

T EE success which fOl,tunately, attended this Journal from the pll bJication of the first number, has led to a change of proprietOl'sbip, which dates hom this issu e, The change is rendered necessary in order to pI'ovide fOl' the gl'owing demand of the important intere sts for which the J ouma! cators.

The late proprieton; h ave kindly writ ten a farew ell addl'ess to our readers; which is pl'inted below.

In cordially thanking them for their kind expressions of opinion, we trust that the Journal, now that it enters upon its new pel'iod of existence, may be fortunate enough to secure the sn.me enthm,iastic support from the friend s of FIRS1' A ID that h as b een so valuable to it in the pa:i1t.

"vVe can confidently fl SSUl'e our l'eaders tlmt no eiI(n·t on our paJ-t will be to mako the new Jom'nal in every way interesting anu useful, and worthy of the great cau s e it l'epl'esents.

WE have to announce tha.t commencing FAREW3LL, with this lllonth's issu e tlJis Journ a l will hencefOl'th be CfLl'l'iec1 on by the w ell known il1'l11 of 11essl' s. D ale, Reyn old s & Co., of 4'6 O,ll1non Stre et, London, EO.

It is with a cel'bilin flmo unt of l' eg r 8t that the la te PI'opI'ietors have given up this J oumal, but they have felt for some time past that eyen if only in the int erests at ambulance wOl'kers, the magazine ought to be in the hands of some firm who could push and fonvard its objects mOl'e effectively than they themselves can do, a.nd suuh a firm they have found in Dale, Reynolds & 00.

Many of OLU' I'eadel's willl'emember that tho portraits of J.I eSS1'S, Dale & Reynolds, who al'e both Volunteer Fire Bl'igade Officers and al'dent Ambulance men, appeared in Oul' issue of July, 1896.

The Pl'upri eton; anel the Editor haye to thank most hem-tily the ambulance l'eading publicfor the great s upport that has been given to them in the past, some of which has come from mo st unexpected qum-tel's

Dming the seven years amI a half of itH existence, this J oumal has enc1eavomec1 to do its lluty feadessly in the fUl'tllernnc e of a gl'eat work, and we have evel'y reason to belie\-e tbat the new PI'ol1l'ietOl's will work conscientiously on the same liues with the nc1dition of gr p at81' freedom, gl'eater expel'ience, amI gl'eatel' l'eSOUl'ce s , The name of the firm which is so well-known in the publishing trade i in it self a guamntee that the \v?l'k win be ca1'l'ied on thoroughly, and that nothing WIll be spat'ed to lTlake the J OlU'nal a succeSl::i an d a great factor in ambulance mattel'S,

We unrleri-ltancl that new features of great interest will soon he introduced, and that in many ways the scope of the J oUl'u\.l will be enhn'gec1, so we sincerely tl'ust that OUl' pl'esent l'ett.den; will continue their support and try to intel'e::,t more first -flidol's in the Journ al, an d in the WOl'lc connected "vitJl it

In conclusi on, h1.te Pl'Opl'jetors bave Ol1ce more to thank t he rea den aml mOl'e especic1.11y tbe contributors, who have :-;0 ll1atel'iaJly helpell the :mccess of tbe ma,aazine and to say " FarewelL" 0

ABERDEEN_ - An interesting competit on in ambu lance work took pl ace in the Trades Hall, Aberdeen, for a handsome silver cup presented by the Aberdeen Town Council. The competition was held by the Aberdeen centre of the St. Andrew's Ambulance Assc'ciation, an, it was open to teams from the counties of Aberde en, Banff, Elgin and Kincardine In addition t o the cup, the local as sociation added silver medals for each of the members of the winning team, and bronze medals for the members of the second team, Seven te::tms competed , three coming forward from employees of the North of Scotland R ailway, two from the Aberdeen CIty, Police, and one from the Aberdeen Royal Engineers, The was beg un at half-past six, the examiners Dr_ J, M h.ensle Booth, Dr. J. Scott Riddell, and Dr. Ashley i\1acIntosh , The result of the competItion 11 .1S as follows :-Team 1. Kittybrewster Lo comol1ve

G,N,S,R.; 2, Aberdeen City Police No, II.; 3 Aberdeen CIty PolIce No, 1.; 4, Schoolhill Station, G,N.S R _; 5, Aberdeen Guard,S, G,N S,R,; 7, 1st A R,E. (V.) Mr.,8pence then ,on BaillIe Taggart to present the prizes, In dOIng so, the BaIllte sal? that, he though the Ambulance Association very fortunate In ,gettll1g that beautiful cup from the Town CouncIl before they took theIr fit of economy-(lauohter), Otherwise, he was afraid, they would have fared :he same as of their companions, and got the usual remark" \Ve are very sorry, we have no money" -(renewed laughter) In ,regard to the police, it was often said that they could not get a policeman when they wanted him. lie knew that a lot of the people down at the P olice Court got a policeman rather too often-(Iaughter), He was sure when an accident happened it was not long before a policeman was on the spot" and it was a satisfaction to know that when an accident dId happen the poltceman was always able a nd willinG to render efficient aid-(applause). He was sure 1lIr. Spence, cha irman of local branch of the St. A ssociation, dese rved great credIt for the work he had done m connection with the He undel'stood that la s year there were 15 class es in the Aberdeen centre, In the Baillie appealed to all friends in the town to subSCrIbe In [lId of the work, There was always a considerable amount of expense entaIled, and when such a good object was in view it deserved s upport-(applause), Baillie Taggart then handed over the prIzes to the WInners all of whom received a heany welcome Mr. i:ipence proposed a vote of thanks to B ,illie Taggart for presenting ,the prizes, and to the doctors who had acted as examiners.

EDINBURGH ,- The a nnual meeting of the Edinburgh Executive Committee was recently held in the office of the secretary, 16, South Charlotte Street, Dr. P. A, Young Fresided, and in moving the adoption of the annual report, said their work had been extremely successful during the year. had,,f0rtunately, not been callea this year to take part, as In the year, Il1 ,work fo: the tion of tr.e condItIOn of our so ldIers In South Afnca, but It was a mattel for congratulation t o them in Edinburgh that they had been able to take part in such extremely beneficent work (App ause.) fhe recor:l increase in the numbel of waggon removals reported at la s year s annua meetin 0' had this year been more than maintained, the total number of attended to during the past year being 1272, ComparinO' this with the f[O'ures of five years ago, wr.en the number of cases "'attended to was 808, the large increase which had taken place durin a that period was apparent, and showed h:w the Association's \\ lgggns were being appreciated and taken advantage of by the E.linburgh pu b li c., There were now at the servIce of t?e two txcellenL mo d ern well-equipped ambu lanc.e waggons, whIch mIght be called at any ho-.!r of the day or night- It might n?t be kn o wn that the Association had a stClc k of water aIr cushIOns, leg rests, &c., which wele available to all requiring the use of such appliances, I n the cases where the use of those arLic:es had been granted they had proved a welcome boon to deserving sufferers_ A proposa l has been -recently made to the G neral Council by the president, the Marqui s of Breadalbane, suggesting that the members of the Assoc ation should be caI1ed together for the purpose of considering, and, if so advised, adopting a res o lution to approach Grand ,Priory o he Order of St, John of Jerusalem in England, With the view of the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association becoming the ambulance department of th at Order in Scotland. Were such a propo sa carried through it would have the effect of giving to the Andrew's Association t he position in Red Cross work in Scotland which was at present occupied by the St. John Ambulance Association in England Mr. J. M, KinO'horn seconded, and the report was adopted. M r. J R. Sutherlanl'moved a vote of thanks to the members of the medical profession for their s ervice during the year, Mr, A. A. Gordon secon ded, a nd the mo tion was agreed to.

V:M1SS}\'L OOuLCIIER, LADY SUPERll'1'l'EXDENT, IpS,Y!CII NuRSING DIVISION , AND SECRE'l'J.RY, S l'. JGIIN AIIIBULAKCE ASSOCIATION, IpSWICII OENTRE. T HE lady w ho:;e gmce:,; om' GUUl 'J'y tbis month is well known n ot only to fil'st-niders in En st Angli<1, but to those in other (1i:.,tricti-l; ind ee d, \\-e wight :"ay :1" Olle of the eal'1iest pion ee l'S of th e movement , b el' name is now kno\"n tlll'oughout the amhul a nce wo]'ld <:1 " 011e of its most ard cn t S ll ppol'ters )Ii ss M_ Ooulchel' , is the Lady Snpe lint endent of the 1 p:->\yich l\ Ul'sillg Di \'Ph oto by Ad ol phus Tear, Tp sl<"ich i:-;ion l'\nc1 DeCl' eta l'Y of the Local Centle of the St John Ambul::mce tion at lp swich, in which town s he first took up 11e1' residence in 1870, In 1872 as the l'esult of an intel'view with t11e lat e ( '01. Duncan, the subj ec,t of our sketch mlS indn? ec1 t o :-bn't ambulance classes In tho town of h el adoptlOu, an(l the which has attended her effor ts mll:->t be indee ll gratifying to hel', F01' many yem's, hOWey el'_, llac1 an npllil1 gmne t o ti g ht: ,he met with ll1chl'Pet OPPO::--ltion from medical qn:uters, hom ,'Ollle who ill1 ng in ed f-.lle \\ ,1.8 endeavoming to intl' oeluc e ;l species of 11 011 -ll tlahfi ell pn:wtitionel's-tbis \y as in the eady clay:., of but in spite of aU this opposition she quietly hut pl1l 's ued her way, \yith the that t? day I p:,,\Y}('h one of the best ambulf1l1cec1 towns 111 th 3 llllllland s, nnd tlllS b,1 been ani\'ed at by the continued alld nntil ing energy di splayed by the L a dy Secretal y of the I ps\yich Ce ntre of tlle St, John Ambulance Af'sociatiol1. In 1894 lliss Coulchcr was selected as an H onol'<1l'Y As::.oci,ttc of the Ol'd el' of th e Hospital of St, John of J el'usalelll, aml in 19UO b e wa l'eceiY ed into the On1el' as a Lally of Grace. an instance of Mi ss Conlchel"s cle'-otion to the \Y011:, we may mention that the classes f Ol' mil\\'ay. men in Ipswich wer e iil'st stadoll by b el', anll she contmued to supervise these classes until the Gre It East enl Raih\-ay forrYlE,d it::-- own centre The writel' of this ,n-tic16 has had th e pl'iyilcge of meeting lUisl::i Coulch el' on many occasions, and he has been :-;huck by the earnest and active in tel'est ,sb e takes In, t11e work tb;"l.t is so 11em' hel' 11em't, ] n ndchtlOn to t Ins It h,\ been bis pl'ivilege to c?nyerse of Miss Coul ch er and t Il e kmL11y way 111 wluch they J'efel' to her erl'an(l wOl'k and kin( ll y int el'est is ;Ll1 em'nest tribute to the i n which she is held in the to\"11 of he1' adoption. By tho way, we may mention that COUlchel' i:; ju::;tly pl'ourl of the fad tbat "he i:-> ,m E;lst Anglian, and \\' e abo sa.y that :E'"l.st ADgliaus are pi oud of h er .Sh e JS a woman playing woman's 1o(jf{" nlu-r:ely, li m; within her power to llllnllTIlSe human palll a,nd Snfiel'lllg, and whnt WOIlIan can have a gn1.ndel' mission. ]lay we lo ok fOl' mtl.llY ye:U's of eFlrllest \VOl'k from 1\ 1iss OO_Hlchel', and may Ipswich I-e aliso mOl'e anel mOl'O how much It owes to her eal'nest a.d vocacy ,m el untiring zeal.

B EDFO RD,-There \\·as a large al.tendance at the Bedford Town BalI o n 30th to \\itneos the presentation by the President of tr.e Ce ntre (the Du chess sf Bedford) of the mi!dallions and certificates gained by stu ients dUrIng the year, Her Grace lias hy th e Duke of Bedford, an,d I\"as supported on the plathrm hy Dr, J, Coombs, J ,p, {Chairman of the Centre), Alfred Paine (Hon, Sup erintendent and ::-lecre,ary, Col. and Josselyn, :'Ilr. T, H_ W oolsto n (,\ssi!::tant Commissionel of the SL John Ambubnce Brigade,_ Dr. Coombes saId It \\"as gratil-ying indeed to the friends of the .\mbul ance i\ ssociation to see such a brgeand in fluent ial a5sem bl \' tha day. Th e Am bulance : ssociation was doing a. good and great \\·ork, and he had no dour,t the procfedings 01 that aftemoon would stimulate and encourage all I,ho were concerned in amlulance \york to go on with greater \igour and energy 'Jhe object of the .-\ssociarion \\a, a purely bene l·ole:,·t one and W:J.S altogcther good, The results of the efforts made bv .-\mbulance AssGciations throu2hoUl the counlry haJ bec" gmtihing and mtdactory, :lnd he belie ·ed thn in Bedford, under the very fa\-ourable allu influenti;d auspices of the Duchess of B edford, they would go on succe,,,[uily and that much good would result from :heir activity and energy in the ,york (applause), The r eport ,,·as then read by the Duchess of Bedford then gave an address, and first congrHulated her Grace and :\[rs, Paille upon th e splendId work carried out in the Bedford Centre ami especially up on h at b ranch of the ursing Dilision which embraced the distributi on of dinners to the sick poor. ll e felt sure that many d heart had be en aladdened and many a conyaleSCellce of the sick had reen helped by charitab!e :J.nd excellent way in \\hich this dep:J.rtment has heen carried ouL It was a great pleasure for hIm to be there hecause the B edford Centre ,,·as no\\" included in hisdistric1: 1::\0 , 3) The St John Ambulance Brigade was founded f.r those who had gained certificates, 50 that they could band together for dnll and practice, to carry am accident and in\'ali d transport, to asslst tbe polLce 111 takIng 01 accidenLs in the or in works or at arge gathenngs. 1·or thiS purp o,e the Br;gade \\',:s di,- districts, which coinCided as nearly as poss ble \\i lh the mil,llary dIStricts, :\l embers must make a minimum r,umber of lI el\'e drdls r.efore they could be eX1.mlllrd, and unless they could gi\'e a \elY good not simply an excusethey had to come up once a year tO,r ll1SP':CllOI1 either by the Commissioner or one of his assistants ThiS was done becau5e they wanted an efficient B rigade, and not merely one on paper. During the \\·ar in S'Ulh Aflica :000 Sl. Johu An,h;lance men had gone out to nurse the sick and \\·ounded, and cluld thn h::t\"e heen sent out \,ith c'>ntidence had they not been used to di':cir, ';ne and Iud been in COI1't:ln, drill ;1nd and practice? He had hea! d opini, l1s from officers and ot"el s \\ho had come back from the Front, ;1ud all nere agreed the .-\mhulance m en had l endered excellent sell·ice Inconnectlon \\"ll_h the work of the Brigade in Bedford they were not getting lull nlue lor their money_ Pain e was known ;111 o\'er England men and women (applause). and he A'as anxious that roth she and her should see full results for the time and care they had ce\oled to the Ce ntre T he great thing was that they had made a comm:ncement, an d it noll' remained for them to sho\\ they mea.nt, luslness and we re n ot ash;1med to sholl' the eight-p ointerl cro"s 01 ::'t. _,ohn, under wh ich such humane work h:lS been done for the !a,.,t floo The D uke of Bedford supported the suggestion mad,e :\[r. " oJlston_ He was sure they \\ould all agree \\'I:h blln that l!l Vlell· of the great im porta nce of ambulance \\olk in thIS coun:r} they ought to hal·e a II e therefore I' entured to hope before the nc:;:t annual meetincy they 1I'0uld alI do their bt:st to plo\lde the County 01 BedfOld \\ith DiviSions, ; \ of \\·as to Ihe Duke "')whess 01 Bedford, rhe Duchess ot BedfOid ac;;no,,1edged the \Ole and said tga\'e her and the Duke gre::tt to c?me there and see so lll;1 ny medaIIions and cenilicates , .She there \\ ould be many volunteers for the l.ngade [)I\'rsl?n of IYoo1ston had ken , _-\ \'ote of th:ln ks 10 the termll1ated the proceedings, h I h II h CLLn,-On December 2nd, e .arge :I 0 t e :.\ ethe rl ands Clu b, B eII Lane, \\a.s tilled to the occasio n beina the distributivn of certilic::ttes, to members ot the a_mbulal:ce chss" Th e chair was in turn occupIed by Strelrtskl,e_ :\1.'Jor_ M,p" and :\11. Johnson, L.L;.C. 1h e :\la rchIOness of TweedJal e d is tributed th e as \\ell as a est IIl1 Ol11al._ to Dr, T, Kl ein, H onorary Medica Lecture:, The \\';li ch Dr. Kl e in 's presence w as hailed on nIght sho lled he ha s endeared him self to the ot the club,::ts \\ell :15 IllS popula r ity as a practitioner in the East EIl?_ I C t, f h The repolt.of the :.\ ort la,rnpton. en Ie 0 t e S J hn \m bulance Association IS ag;lIl1 a credll:r.Dle lecord of un selJevo;ion to the came of the s ufferll1g - It stales that" :llthough the c h sses held in this centre during the P:l·t year have no t bee n quite s o nU:l1er o u s in the prel'ious one, tbey h;l\'e ;I'e:l J:t_ended and most succes fuI. The llum be r 0 1 cases, rep ol II hleh hI s ,lie! has been rendp.red during the year IS S:lO, lI1c1udlllg JO fractures and

dislocat.ions· 6r of these havina been attended by members of the Borough Po'lice Force and 45 by the Earl's Barton. Division. A special word of praise in this connection must be given to those members of the corps who so promptly and efficiently rendered assistance to the sufferers ilJ the recent dreadful accident caused by the overturning of it tram-car in Mercers' Roll'; the fact that oyer 20 serious Clses, princip a lly compound fractures, were attended to and proper'" conveyd to tbe Infirmary on stretchers within 25 minutes of the catastrophe speaks [or it se lf; and :h e honorary surgeons at that Institution rep o rt that owing to the excellent manner Ifl which first aid bad been affurded to the sufferers, the majority of them made a rapid reovery. The committee is also pleascd to notice the sple!1did services being perfurmed by the members of. the nursll1g divIsIOns, especially in villaaes where a medical man IS not always available. Special Ieports of "good work have reached tilem from Earl's Barton and Little Houghtor. The ambulance carriage has during the 3!ear been used for the removal of + p_<t:ents and has journeyed 613 the trained services o f those in cbarge, in every case, being cheerfully and gratui tously gi I en. Excellen t repurts h a \'e been recei\'ed from country divisiom, in mo st of "hich good work is in progress. The acceptance by :\Jr. J. Cooper, J.P ., of the office of chairman of the committee is commented on with pleasure, and the committee feel assured that :'111'. Co oper , with his well-known tact and business ability, will maintnin the kindly relations which have always existed in this centre and corps, and in return will find the members will work loyallv with him in tbe cause I)f suffering humanity. The report of the chier superintendent, :'Ilr. John Perry, on the Northampton Ambulance CorFs, says: The large and costly material has heen well maintained and increa!:eu bOlh in town and county, and the numerous stretcher and litter stations re!1ularly inspectec. Both sergeants and members of the cycle division ha\'e rendered most valuable !:en'ice by attending drills at county divisions, such drills being well maintained and attended throughout tbe corps The transport !'ervice both at headq:1arters and Earl's Barton h:I.s been admirably conducte::l with a slight increase in number of cases, every case has been conducteu with great satisfaction to patients and medical staff.

3n {fDcll1oria 111.

With deep regret we learned of th(' death of ir '.\,i lli am :'IfacCormac, Hart., K.C.B., K.C.V.O" Knight of Justice of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, F.R C.S., Surgeon-inOrdinary to the King-, and Surgeon·in-Chie! to the S:. John Ambulance Brigade. Sir \Vi llia m, who was born in Belrast, commenced his education in that city, subsequently proceeding to Dublin and Paris to finish. In 1870 the Franco-German \\'a r gave f:)ir \Villi am his chance, and he availed himself of it. IIe was appointed Surgeon-in·Chief to the Anglo· f\merican ambulance, and in conjunction with Sir John Furley he went through the ngours and hardships of that compaign, during which period he earne_ the gratitude and esteem of many of both sides, by his kind and sympathetic nature, and by the unweaned way in which he at all times carried out his duties. Ilis book," Totes and Re collections of an Ambulance Surgeon" is interesting and instructive, and we would suggest its inclusion in the library of anv of our readers who take an interest in the history of the war ambulance service of that time.

He was surgeon, and of late years consulting surgeon to St.

Th omas's Hospital, and also to the French Ilospit:I.1 and to the talian Hospi tal in Lon:lon, President of the Royal Colleae of tlurgeons of England, a position he occupied for a period five anu he was literally covered with foreign honours. His action in volunteering for South Africa while President of the Royal College of Su:geonE, and .ther eby standing at the head of his prof"ssion, was highly appreciated III all quarters, and did much, at a time of great anxiety, to restore confidence and to bring comfort to many a home. HIS death came as a great snock, and will be reaarded as a personal loss by many ran ks of society.

The .which took place at Kel:sal Green, was attended by many dlstlllgUIshed men In the medical and diplomatic world amongst whom we noticed Lord Knutsford, Director of tbe Amb u: lance Department o[ the Order of St. Jobn, 0 nd Chairman o[ the British Red Cross Association.

WE received from .:'IIr. B. C. Owen one of his unique fountain pens, IS supplying at the popular price of one shilling. Jt was ?fI.gll1ally on the at the price of five shillings , an? It IS It.. t \I III carry any nib, either fine or broau POll1t. 10 first alders dOing street or any other ambu lance duty it should prove a boon, and the price places it within reach of all. It should prove a seasonable present to" Our boys" at the front.

jforces.

THE VOL U:-I T,·ER A:VIIl CL ANCE SCHOOL OF I.'lSTlWCTlO N [or a g ood many years has carried on an unpretentious but useful work in organising classes forrhe training of the non-commissioned officers and men of the London Battalions as stretcher - bearers The Volunteers \\h o have just passed through the advanced and junior ambulance classes were inspe cted on the rIth December, in the head-quarters of the Artists' Curps, DlIke's-road, Euston.road, by Colonel Sir T Galwey, principal medical officer of the H o me Dicitrict, who afterwards presented the prizes gained by the teams who distinguished them selves in the eX:Jl11inations cond ucted a few days ago by the officers of the A:-my ;'ledi cal Corps. The advanced class was attended by over forty men who were in possession of the Army Ambula'lce certificate, and of these nineteen earned the higher proficiency certificate, while in the junior class nearly on e hundred Volunteels, representing two dozen metropolitan battalions, had enrolled themseh·es. fn each class the lest team was furnished by the 1st Cadet [h tta lion K.R.R., Bugler :\1 ills, Corporal Fewkes, h ivate Ernte:nan and Corporal Kingnvorth earning, for first aid, drill, and roller banlaging, +03 marks out of a maximllm uf 560, and se uring individua!ly a silver cup and the p oss e ss ion, until the next examinat on, of the challenge bOld preser.ted by Surgeon-General J. B. IIamilton, late medic-al office r

Dist; ic-t. In the advanced class the \,inning team was Pllvate Burroughs, C o rporal Hutchings, Lance-Corporal \Vingfield, and Pri vate Feast, who secmed S09 marks, be 3d \ T.B. the Queen's coming next with +90. The pi ize [onhe best man in the junior class, not necessarily in the winning team, \I'as also secured by a cadet o[ the 1st King's Royal Rifles, and the success of these lads is all the more creditable as the competitors included teams from such crack corps as the ,\1 tits, London Scottish, and Honourable ;,rtilkry Company. ,\ London Rifle Brigade representatali\'e, Private F0rd, secured the senior medical officer's prize for proficiency in giving instruction in stretcher and wag o n d rill. In prestnce o[ :\I a jor l\lacl ure, late London Scottish; Brigade-Surgeon Senior IVledical Officer I nstilictor ; Surgeon-:\Iajor :::Heman, late C. LV. ; and other officers, who gave voluntary services to the school, Sir Thomas Galwey, who was accompanied by the examine1s, Major '\ H. B. Lewis aLd Lieutenant ['orbes Winslow, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, handed the prizes to the winners, ami in the course of a short speech, stated that he had just returned from South Africa, where there was need of men trained in ambulance work to relie\'e those who were now at the front. He suggested that some of those whom he addressed should offer fo r service, assuriEg them Lhat a rear in South Africa would do them, :Il1C enable them to do, a great deal of good.

THE 1st Cadet B:J.ttalion the King's Royal Rifle Corrs, which in the ad vanced class of the 70lunteer Am bulance School of I nztruction, carried offall the prizes last week, won the Hamilton challenge bowl for the third time in the competition, held on Wednesday evening at the head-quarters of Ithe Artists' Volunteer Rifles, and for the ninth time in succession had the best man in the schoo l, Private Wingfield having- the highest marks. In commemoration of the winning of the Hamilton Challenge Bowl for the third time. the members of the rst

C.B. King's Royal Rifle Corps held a supper, followed by a s moking concert, at the "Vool Exchange lZestaurant, Coleman Stree t. SurgeonLieut. Redmond Ro che presided, u.nd the vice·chair was occupied by Sergeant-Major Sherwood.

YOLU.'lTEER i\IEDlCAL STAFF CORl'S.-The competition fo r the Officers Cup in !'io. + (Captain Harper's) company included squad, stretcher, and waggon drilll hand seats, and first aid, the examiner and judge being Surgeon-Captain Callender, Civil Service Rines, who awarded first prize to No. + (Sergeant Reed's) section, and the second prize to No. section. The turn-out of the men and the sectional averages for the year were also taken into account; and the examiner reported that the drill throughout was very good, and that all the men questioned showed practical knowledge. In NO.5 (Surgeon-Captain

E. B. Waggett's) company the prizes were won as follows: Best stretcher sq uad - Lance-Corporal !)riskell and Privates Duparc, Matthews. and Gouly; Bandaging and first aid-Private W. A. Flide and Corpo!al Waters; Section Challenge Cup- No.3 (Sergeant H. B. Everson's) section; Smartest recruit - P rivate L. D Gouly; General, 'ection efficiency-No.3 (Sergeant Everson's ) section; and Attendance prize-Corporal G P. Nixon.

THE 1ST V.B. EA T KENT REGl:\lENT.-It is understood that the Ambulance of the above R egiment has placed its services at the disposal of the authorities (or ambulance duty on the Coronal ion Day, and that the ofrer has been accepted. Specia I classes are being lormed at Folkestone to perfec t the men in the duties.

$t. 30bn Bnlbulance METROPOLITAN CORPS. ,. ".

CORPS. meeting of this Division was held at the he"dquarters, Blgglll Street, on Thursday, 28th when a full attendance of members was presided over by the Superintendent IJ. Lloyd Lawes, who took the chair in the absence o( the Honorary Surgeons, Drs. Howden and urphy. The Secreta;y :ead the Committee's annual report. Dr. GrIffiths, Chief Superintendent, visi ted Dover in .t\ugu st and lIlspected the Division. That gentleman spoke highly o.f men's efficiency, but im pressed upon the 'Jfficers the. deSirability of the men being in uniform and better eqUipped A. sum of about £60 is re'luired [or the uniform. was :Ifj'lng to note tha t the men have rendered several cases of first during the past year. and that squads of men were prol'lded fo r a large at River in June last, and In August formed part of the lifehoat pro ces sion. Puolic duty, such as attendance at athletic sports and aames, will be rendered ?y. the di\'ision when applied for, and this form of the work It IS hoped will be in creased this) ear. It should al,o knO\\'Il that i ndi \'idual attention will be gi\'en incases of aCCidents by the members having been provided "ith containing implements for the purpose. and an arm badge as evidence to do so. A t the concl usion of the report l\Ir. G. Plater read the balance sheet, showing- a balance in hand. The election of Committee resulted in }\:nott, :'II arsh, Spi nner, and GoodbuTa beina returned as its members. Votes of thanks were accorded fo the President F. \ Barlo,,:. Esq., Drs. Howden and .:\[urphy, and meetltlg termlllated.

(By kind permission of the JC'wlsh Chrol/lcle.)

O\' unday, December lot, an instructi\·e dispLIY of ambulance work " 'as gl\ en by the members of the cast London Divisi o n, under Superintendent P. Hayman, at the Jewish \Yorking :'len 's Club. All the members of th e division are Jews. :'lr. Lawrance A. lsa "cs occupied the Chair. 1\11'. gayman first put his men throtlo h the ordinary routine drill, after which the method of bandaging was demonstrated. One of the members of the Squad then" fractured his leg," whi ch was skilfully .1 set" wi th splints and band;:[C'es, and the " patient " was with commendable care carried from the to the hospital. The next ambulance item was a I. street accident. " one of members o[ the Division having had the misfl) rtune to have been run over on a country road by a wagon, which, :'1r. Hayman explained, ,. was loaded with pig-iron," ami having received a kick on the heau from the horse, him insensible with a fractured leg under the wagon. Four pedestnans appear, ard at once see what has happened. They crawl under the wagon, bring out handkerchiefs, neckties boocla ces, and with the help of a walking-stick and a couple of ne\\'papers the limb is set and the wounded head bound and padded. The wat er proof cover of the c:J.rt makes a good impromptu stretcher and the" sufferer" is carried to the hospital. Mr. H ayman presented still another item in the form of a hou se on fire, from which four s u ffocated persons had tl) be rescued. The am Julance men crawled in on their hands and knees with their mouths bound up, and brought them out with the" fireman's lift," and expeditiously resorte:l to artificial respiration. Dr. Bernard Myers, the Surgeon of the Divison, said that three years ago they had only thirteen members and one stretcher, whereas they now had five stretche.rs, Jour medical ha\'resacs and all necessary apparatus. The members had to attend a smal l number of drills, &c., per year, pass an annual examination, and be present at an ann ual inspection in order to be marked" efficient" [or the year. After three years' efficien t service, the mem bers beca me entitled to the Service Star, and after fifteen years to the Service :Ueda I of the Brigade. Dr. Myers then alluded to the untirin g energy of Superintendent Hayman in connection with the work of the Division, whi ch was entirely cumposed of Jews, four of wh om had bee n at the front. He urged hi s hearers to assist the work by joining the Classes and enrolling them se lves in the Briglde. Mr. L. A. Is aacs then presented medallion s and certiJicates, and concludeu by proposing- a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. IJayman for the trouble he had taken in organisina the display and [or kindly providing the entertainment. :'Ilr. who was enthus'asticaUy received. briel1y returned thank s. DurinO' the ,e vening the following contributed vocal and instrumental items The Misses Hayman, De Saxe, Marsden and Bamberger, and Mes srs. Freedman and Wasserzug.

tin the ill\'itation of :'Ifr. \Y. Simpson, on hehalf of the Working :\[en' s College, on Saturday el'ening-, 30th O\'er roo members and friends of tbe above di\'ision sat d :l\\'Il to a substantial tea, at the Albert Coffee House, Be!gra\'e Gate, the object beina to aive a special greeting to their comrades wbo had from South Africa. Am o ng those present \\,ei'e Chief-Surg-eon F. M. Pope, :\1 D., Chie f-Supel in tende nt J. L. [{ing, StoresSuperintendent Mobbs. Superintendent-Treasurer Blise, Superintendents Z. Langham, CWorkina Culleae Di\i sion) F. I::ipencer, D. ,'almon, anct"'J. Burkitt. a;d :\Ir. J. '\'oodhouse Simpson. Immediately after the repast Mr. " T Simpson gave a healty welcome to the college men wh::: had returned from [he front, remarking that of all WOl k in connection with the college none haci prcved mo re successful than that of ambulance work. [n time of pe:lce it was valuable, but in time of war it was invaluable, as had been pro\'ed ill the present war. Chief Superintendent J. L. King stated that in re!'ponse to the appeal made by the \\'ar Office, to the I:rigade for volunteers as orderlies, close upon 2000 men responded. Of this number 59 volunteered from Ihe Leicester corps, 29 being mem be rs of the Working Men's Colleae I.:i\ ision, three of whom had volunteered for a second time. could not bm feel proud that so many men should ha\'e \'olunteered from the Leicester Corps, and on behalf of that corp3 he wished to thank them for so gallandl' responding to the summons, and for giving their services to the forces of the country.

Division have just completed a year of very useful work. Squads of men ha\'e attended all the p rinCi pal athletic spons and other public gatherings and ):rocessions during the year. A large number of cases hal'e received treatment on pub lic dut\,. An invitation is given to those holding th e certificate of the t. John Ambulance Asso ciation to join the brigade.

month we referred to an attack m:lde bY:l contemporary on the officers of the St. John Ambulance Brigade: this month we ha\ e to take to task our esteemed and usually kindly disposed contemporary, Thd HorpitaI. Referring to the work of the Hospital Saturday Fund .l\ursing Divi!:ion, mention is made of the lOS cases" pri\'ately nursed." "As none of these ladies are hospital trained, it howel er," says our contemporary, ,I a mistake co describe them as nursing or the cases as privately nursed '.'. Our contemporary, however, does not inform its readers what the correct description shou ld have been in each case. For our own plrt we contend there is no reason for any alterati c n in the presenc Brig-ade terms, the Si.sters of the St. John Ambulance Brigade bare had no hospItal tralllillg. the education they undergo is very th o rou,gh. and many of them acting. as district visitors render much \'aluable aSSistance to district anu palish nurses, who, but for thi., timely aid, would oftentimes break down from sheer ol'erwork.

.I CST as w e are going to press \\'e h:lve recei\eu an account of the alln ual dislribution of to the poor of St. John '5, Clerken well, by the Sisters of the St. John's Gate :\' Di vision, th: ;]ccount is, howeyer, too lengthy for our columns thiS month, but \\tli appear 1Il full in our February number, duly illustrated.

FIRST lDatcnt :fJ3anbaoc Shoot.

Having heard so much of that clever inyention .• The Bandage Shoot" and seen so many of them up and down the country, our representative "hen passing through the cityof Leeds a felY days ago called upon the makers, :JIe ssrs. ReynolJs &: Branson, I.imited, surgical and instrument makers (founded r8r6). After walking through some large and "ery IIp·to-d8tc showrooms blistling with all kinds of Surgical Instruments and appliances connected with ambulance \\'ork, we were shown into the primte office of :\lr. Fled Heynolds, \\'ho g;n'e liS a he:trty \I'elcome, Tell liS, said our inten'iel\"er. something about your famous Ba nJ:t!;e Shoot. :\11'. Re\'nolds replied c, [t had often struck me that the old method of storing randages was an uncle::ll1 and bad one, " In a published in' The Chemist and Druggist.' or The British and Colonial Druggist,' T forget which, in r893, I suggesteu a Shoot' to hang up in a Pharmacy: curiously enough no one took the matter ser ous ly, In December of rRg-1-. ho\\'eler, I made enc of these Shoots and was so delighted \Iith its simplicity that my firm began to manufacrure them on a large scale, 'Ve sent out over 500 of them the first t,,'eh'e months and the sale has steadily incre'lsed since."

AID. January, 1902.J

with spotlessly clean bandages; rolls of lint, plaster, safety pins, a tourniquet, a pair of scissors, a couple of wooden sp lints being hidden a lyay most ingeniously at the back of Shoot, these latter fitting into a socket and if needed at once form a Liston's thigh splint.

i\Ir. Reynolds here remarked, that when the "Shoots" were required for collieries, factories or f.1ilway stations, they were fitted at the side with a bottle containing Styptics and Sal. Volatiles, and Carron OiL

We were informed that the guinea Shoot was perhaps the most popular. It s such a size that it can be conveniently unhooked from the wall and carried under the arm to the scene of accident. These

.' Shoots" are used by the St. John Ambulan:e Brigade, Lond o n Fire Brigade and are found on six of largest railway systems 111 England, and have also been sent to many of our colonies As we had to catch our train we bade lUr. Reynolds good-bye, having seen m ch that pleased us, One word more. It seemed to us that if our Army and Medical Department had supplied a few Shoots to every Field Hospital they would oflen have been worth their weight in gold, their portability, t:,e dust-proof nature of their manuraclure would have rendered them invaluable on the open veldt with its dreaded dust storms and difficulty of transport. We advise our readers should tbey happen to be in the neighbourhuod of Briggate, Leeds, at any time, do not fail to call on :\1r. F re d Reynolds, for practical first -aiders will learn much from his inventive mind, especially should they be considering the fittin a up of Am b ulance or Nursing Stations. b

FIRST AID

Tl\e of\ly Jourf\al devoted

CONDUCTED BY ARTHUR T. DALE, M.J.l, AND

•

to j\mbuJaf\ce Work.

JOHN REYNOLDS.

:-.lo.92 VOL VIII CEntered at Statzoners' Hall.J FEBRUARY, 1902. PRICE ONE PENNY.

It is the intention of the Proprietors of this Journal to enlarg-e the number of its pag-es at an early date, and, as the Volunteer Fire Service is much wrapped up in Ambulance work all.d as this latter service has not independent Journal. the Proprietors will also add news whicJ. will interest them. Suggestions are invited for Prize Competitions and other matters whioh will advance the interest of the Pa p er.

TO OUR READERS

an Honorary Associate of the Order of St. John of J erusalem. No one can deserve it more for the work he has done for the Association., especially during the period the St Ambulance Bngade were sendin a men to South AfrIca. t>

The illustration shows vne of the workshops where these Shoots are bUIlt up, great care being exercised in makin a them as dust proof as 'ye were now taken into another"'long room 'where the enamellmg ]s done. Here we noti:ed "Shoots" of all sizes fitted wi th dust proof air filters, and enamelled in all sorts or colours, whitc, pale green, chocolate, but mOot1y in the well known scarlet significant of First ,\ld, ?\'ext we were shO\l'n the ,. Shoots" being deftly loaded

KEC\'DAL .-The third annual social evening held under the auspices of the Kendal Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, took place recently in the Town Hall, Kendal, but owing to the tempestuous nature of the weather there was only a mouerate attendance. During an interval in the programme, Superintendent \N, Harrison and SuraeonCaptain Cockill made a few remarks, Superintendent ,\"1, Ha;';'ison said he thought th e Brigade had done very well when they brought home the Cr03sfield Challenge Shield to Kendal. (Hear, hear.) They bea t Preston and Lancaster and afleT\\'ards defeated Oluham, so that they had beaten all Lancashire. In the case of the Crossfield Challenge Shield no medals were given to the men as a token of their individual That po int, however, had 1l0t been overlooked, as through the kindness of 1\1rs, Cockill each man would receive a medal. These trophies were not brought home to Kendal eas ily. It meant months of hnd \\'ork in order to get the men up to the right pitch so th::tt they could successfully compete "'ith the contingents from bia towns, and he as Superintendent wishei to thank the two squads the 10nD' and arduous work :hey had done, Another important thing to was that if at any time, which they prayed might never har pen, tbe count:y need their services, there would be 3,000 men who knOWIng theIr work would be able to enter the and take their part ill the grim work, and do it welL (Hear, hear.) He had p leas ure in, ask.ing to distribute the medals so kindly gl\'en by hiS wlfe.-Captall1 Cocktll before handIng the medals to the members of the successful sq uads, said he would like to thank all those wh o despite the inclement nature of the weather had attended that even1l1g. At present they had two members in the South African Constabulary, one in the R.AJI'LC., two more who had been engaged in St. John work were now taking posts on the South African Railways.

CO U PO N TI eKE T

GUARANTEED

SPECIALLY

BY The Ocean Acci.dent & Guarantee Corporation J LIMITED.

40, 42 , & 44, MOORGATE STREET, LONDON, E.e.

to whom Notice of Claims, under the conditions, must be sent within seven days of acci<;lent to the above address.)

600093 £100

will be paid by tbe above Corporation to the egal representative of anyone who is killed by an accident to the Passenger Train (within the United Kingdom or Cbannel IslaJllls), ill which the ,Ieceased was a ticket bearinl.( or paying passe nger, or wbo shall have uepn ['1tally injured thereby (shuuld death result wit.hin ninety days after such accident)

PROVIDED that t,he person so killed or injured had upon his or ber person or had left at home tbis ticket, with his, or her, usual signature, written prior ',n the:Lccident. on the space provided below, wh ich, togethE'r with the giving of notice with in tbe time as hereinuefol'e mentioned, is the essence of this contract

This insurance bolds good for currcnt issue only, and carries the of itll<l ib slIuject to, the conditions of the" OCEAN ACCIDENT & GUAHAN'fHE

Cf»)1.PANY, Limited, Ad, 1890," Nos. 2 & 'rhe Oorpcration admit that the purcbase of this Paper is the payment of u. premium under Section:34 of the Act. No person can recuver under mc re than one Ooupon ticket in respect of the eame risk.

Sx{;nature-----------------------

it is the earnest :vish and desire. o.f the Proprietors to make J OUi nal as attract] ve and en tertamll1g as possible, correspondents In all parts of the country a re asked to give it all the help tbey can. Superintendents of Corps and Officers of Divisions of the St. John Am bulance Brigade, and Officers of the Volunteer \Iedi cal Staff Corps and Volunteer A:nbulan ce School of Instruction, will, it is hoped: do b,est to It known amo:1gst the members of their respective org nlsatlOns, ana will also send for public::ttion their offi::ial news and n o tices

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.

12 months, IS. 6d., post free, to be sent to the Publtshers, Messrs. Dale, Reynold s & Co. 46 Cannon Street, Landen, E.C. ' , Telegraphic Address- TWENTYFOUR, LONDON. Telephone NO.-S-1-77 BANK.

:l13 rev i ti es.

heal' that His Majesty the King will present South med.als to a number of members of the South Afncan contmgent of the St. John Ambulance Briaade at an eaely date.

<=>

* * !II

AND that the Committee of the Ho spital Saturday Fund that Supt. A. R. Runde1l has been granted the Sel'vlce Medal of the Order of the Hospital of St. John.

* "*

AND that an interesting concerning the founder of tl;e Red Cross l11.ovement, Hem'i DUllant, appears in the 11;07·t"'a.rnl!lon Ch?'onicle, from the pen of Assistant CommISSIOner Woolston.

"'" *

IT is little less than an scandal that the of the Red Ol'ossof o,enev[l, sho uld be ending his days In the poorhouse. Y 6t such t he caso H enri Dnnant has spent not only his life but hi s whole fortune on the establIshment of the. gl'eat WOl'k ",hich has proved of untold : alue to the soldIers of many countries. He is now livin a III ft in Switzedand. He i:,; evidently in fun of Ins mental ,Pow.eI's for he has been ad judged a share m the Nobel pl'lze m connection witll the Peace Conferellce. It was hoped by hi:; fI'icnds that Dunallt would be enabled this prize to end hi::> days in comfol't, but a bevy of crechtors hav e stepped in and laid hands on money. Now that his doleful plight is made known in thIS sUl'ely some effort will be made to do a good turn fOl' lum who has done so much for others . Cannot the Red Society do something on behalf of IIel1l'i Dunant?

* * - * WE have mu ch pleasure in noting that Dr. J. M. Carvell, Hon. Surgeon, St. J olm Am bulance has been elected

*;it* hard worker in the Ambulance cause has reCeIved a J?st acknowledgement of his Rervices hom the Order by bemg made an E squire, gazetted on the 26th Nov., 1901. We Tefer to Mr. W. R. Edwards, Accountant to the Ord er. *

,. WE draw the attention of reaelers to an article by SIr Henry BUl'liett on Lomlon Ambulance taken from the D aily .Mail, and a reply by Dr. Iachtel. 'Next month we will eleal with these articles in detail.

l,tfe::::$aving tn the 'Jlonbon $treets.

By

SIR HENRY B {lRDETT,

K.C.B. [he jollow£lIff £s taken from the" Dax/y lI-faxl:'

It is a m,istake .to that London has done and is doing nothing in regard to hfe-savll1g In the streets. Tt is to the credit of Englishmen that much of th,e good work accomplished by vol untary effort should be done so and that, as in the present case, London has a falrly complete system of street ambulances which have been rendering efficient service for ten years. It is not only not correct to state that no scheme has been propounded for London out in fact a service, as I will proceed to is actively at 'work in ou; mldst, thanks to the generosity of one or its citizens, Mr. H. L. Bischoffsheim.

Prior to the establishment of the Street Ambulance Association at the end of r88 ,cabs were almost exclusively employed in the transport of cases of street accident, with the well-known result of frequent conversion of slight casualties to grave injuries. Before that vear the was much discussed and some attempts made to serVIces, notably a local service at Kilburn, and two stations established by the St. John Ambulance Association, and also one by Kino- 's College Hospital. b

PRESENT SERVI CE,

The present system was the outceme of a scheme fOI the oro-anisation and maintenance of an effec,ive street ambulance for the metropolis unanimously adopted by the Hospitals Association on March 20, r 889, resulting from a paper read by Mr. Th omas Ryan. It met with such prompt support that the funds necessary for its and maintenance for one year were immediarely subSCrIbed. 1r. H. L. Bischoffsheim, the present treasurer, has very generously provided the necessary funds for its maintenance year by year, the t.otal cost having, so far, exceeded £S,ooo. To him and to J\lr, Thomas Ryan, who has managed the service from the outset, the grateful tbanks of all Londoners are due. As the object was to help the police as much as possible and to work in conjunction with them, London was divided into ambulance districts, the divisions to harmonise with the police districts. It was attempted, with a large measure of success, to secure accommodation for the ambulances in suitable situations free of all cost by o btaining the co-operation of the authorities in charge of police stations, fire brigade stations, hospitals, railway stations, and other public buildings. The use of police stations was not secured, but at the sugges ti on of tbe police themselves cab ranks were adopted as the most appropriate places at which to establish ambulance stations Th e Chief Commissioner and the police warmly co-operated, and wi th their assistance am bulances were established in close juxtaposition to most of the busiest thoroughfares. STREb.T STA lION S AND ;\IETHODS.

There are now between fifty and sixty street ambulance stations within th\! rour-mile radius, Of these, ten are fire-brigade stations,

tweh'e are hospital stations. and twenty-six are thoroughfarf'E. like the :\rch. Blackfriars Bridge. :he R oyal Exchange. Hol born Town Hall Langham Place. R\'e Lane. Peckham. All ,aims' Church. Elephant and Castle the Holborn \·iaduct. The of the work done in ten 'l"ears, 1 '91-19°0, shol\' that the amoulances have been employed from- the date of the esta?lishmem of the some 17.77 5 times. During last ye'lr 250 aCCidents dealt \I"lth at the fire-brigade stations, 3.J. at the h?spital stations. and 1:320 at the thoroughfare and other stations. makmg- a total of aCCident C,lSt'S. h is matter for regret that these figures are largely approXimate only. owing to the difficulty of keepinO' precise records at each ambulancp. station in existing circumstances. I am content. howel·er. ,0 quote the precise figures of the fire-brigade stations. as continuous O'rowth and the usefulness of the street ambulance serl"lce. I n 189"1-2 ninety.six accident cases were remol'ed from fire-bri crade stations. and the annual number had increased to 2:;0 according to last year's return. Here I would bring?ut a point I\"hich is not appreciated by those who. ha,:e no of ambulance wo rk. The amount of mischief an Injured person IS likely to through beinO' remOl'ed by an unskilled person from the Spot where he has fallen to stretcher placed at his side. is as no!hing to ,he inJury he will suffer in beincr lifted into and extracted from a four-wseeled cab or a hansom by the most ski1ful bearer :hat el'er was traired, :'\ or is this all; fur the effects of the journey 10 a sitting POStll e 10 a shakr cab compared with the results of cOOl'eyance lying al fll [ length on a stretcher in a litter with indiarubber t\'fed wheel,. all will be aole to appreciate. ,,'belher, therefore, Lond on ultimately has a horseambulance sen'ice or not, it would seem to be essential that the present street ambulance system should I>e maintained and extended. so as to secure tbat lilLers and stre:chers shall be a,"ailable near el"ery thoroughfare to receive the accident pending the arril'al of tbe corse or electric motOr '3 mbulance.

The pattern of street am bulance at pre5ent in use is the one selected as the result of a public exhibition and competition. when the Judges appointed I\"ere eminent members of the medl"al profession with knowledge of ambulance work. Attached to each street ambulance is a basket containing splints. bandages, and other requisites for rendering first aid to the sufferer. and an inspector has been appointed Ilhose duty it is to make a continuous round of the stations, to cLan and lubricate the ambulances and keep them in good repair and thorough working order.

The number of accidents remo\'ed to hospitals reported by the police in London last year is abem 6,000, and of these upwards of 2 .-1-00 Ilere removed by the street ambuLmces. It is matter for wonder, in 'ie w of the fact thal an ar.lbulance is stationed on the Emb;mkment at Blackfriars Bridge, that it should ha I'e been possi ble for a case of neglect like th'lt which was recently reported in the" Daily :\fail to hal'e o;:curred at all.

POLICE THE KEY 00 THE PROBLDL

I n L ondon the police hold the key to the wise solution of the am bulance difficulty. The policemen's instructions are to keep the roads clear for the traffic. That is thelr first duty, and as a consequence, and for reasons I will mention, there is ground for fearing that many accident cases are still placed in cabs by the police which shc'uld be placed upon the adjacent ambulance The explanation of this is that it is simpler and less troublesome to whistle up a cab than to go to the adjacent ambulance station, take out the ambulance, and then proceed with the patient to the hospital.

A further difficulty arise.; from the fact that many o f the police hal'e not recei,'ed instruction in first aid during duty time, and it is not reasonable to hope that the whole of the men engaged will have sufficient public spirit to secure instruction by giving up a portion of their day wten off duty. I think that the use of the street ambulance would be much extended if the Chief Commissioner could s ee his way to permit a fee of, say, half-a·crown to be paid to each policeman who conveyed an accident case to the ho!'pital on a street ambulance, and it 1V0uid be justice to the police.

HORSE OR MOTOR

A gentleman who desires to remain anonymous has often told me that if horse or electric motor ambulances can be usefully in London, he would defray the initial outlay, prol'iding arrancrements could be made for statio;}s and for the maintenance of an service. answer has been that the circumstances of London differ so greatly from most great cities abroad and in the United States that I have grave doubts as to the suitability of the American system for the metropolis. As;\Ir. Ryan and others have pointed out, there are four main objections to the adoption of such a system :-(1) The uneven distri bulion of hospitals over London; (2) the inability of the hospitals to provide the necessary accommodation, and their lack of funds to expend on such a purpose; (3) the fact that a huge area like London can be better served by a large number of hand litters stationed not far apart;. (4) on the Continent and in America rublic money-city or State-ls expended on hospital services, which include ambulance work.

AID.

Febr u ary, 190 2 J

-ntil the citizens are prepued to face much higher rates than they pa,' ar pre<;ent. it seems hopeless to expect that so expensil'e an sation a, an electric motor ambulance system for 'he whole 01 the me:ropol's, with a hrge paid of medical men attendants, ;vill be prol'ided promptly a: the pubhc expense. The dIfficulty of medical sen'ice in London Iyould be great. apart [rom the expense altoge:he r and the end of the whole maner, as hr as r can see. is to ad\'ocate and :::uopon the extension of the existing street ambulance sen'ice by impr()\'ine- its effi !;ieucy. extending the number of its stations. and possibly supplementine- the hand by or t.wo electric motor ambulances for expenmental purposes 10 dealmg WIth the cases in the more crol\"ded centres" It rennins to be seen what the Co:mty Council IIi,: do in the matter.

The jo//ouin'T l' afl,' fr III tI!<'· 1)11'" .ill '." 'J: 7H,;, ,'1' tlir ,;";;0/:' 11'" ,'. LO:,\OO:,\'S \Y.-\:'\T:

A:'\ EFFle[ E:,\T __U1BCL,\XCE ER\'I CEo

Dr. Henri :'\:lc>t,el. tbe im'entor of the remarkalJleambu/a.nce system th:t: h'ls been adop:ed in al' the gre:lt c.lpiL{I" 1\ ith the exception of L ondon. lui,es. 1.ttac;"ing the statements made by Henry Burde:t. r":.C.B in the n lil'; :\hil 'on 20 in II hich he defended the Encrlish methoj o'f life-sal"ing in the treet;;. and at the Slme time cast \'e doub:s 0:1 the p. 0 lity of any dea-ree of success atteodlOg the introduction of a nell" sernce.

ir Henn' Burdett." S:1I'S Dr. Xa chtel, holds that it is a mistake to say that Londc>il has and is doing n oth ing in recrard to lifes:ll'incr in the streets. as in the Hospitals Association adopted a of s:retchers placed at cenain points in the metropolis.

I do nN den" that. in default of something better. good work has heen done in his' direction. but contend that London still lacks a rapid and efficient ambulance organiSation. [t is a pity that in 19 a horse ambulance service 1I'3S not esta bli shed. for during the prdl'ious rear a sen'ice of ,hal kind had been inaugurated in Paris. after an eight years' campaign. which drew the. atremion .o.f the medical and. dail)' Press all ol'er Europe to the question of prondlllg some such sernce for Londo'l.

'. There are becween fifty and sixty' ambulance stations' within the four-mile radiu£. and 2,-1-0+ accident cases were dealt with last year, but II-e are not told what proportion of these case,; ended fatally for want of medical and surzical care on the spot. .-\.n injured person's life depends in many cases upon efficient medical aid being promptly rendered. either on the scene of the accident or in the ambulance carriage, anLl this callnot be obtained by the system nOlI' in l'oO'ue.

II.-\:\'GERS OF THE CAll.

" ir Henry Burdett fears that the London policemen place many injured persons in cabs, inst.ead of. calling for a stretcher, an? r entirely a,O'ree with him that that IS an extremely dang-era us practice. 1 also r;cognise the )[ Sir Henry's explanation that the policeman fin.ds it easier to call a cab than tu go for a stretcher and accompany the 111jUied person to the hospital. In many ca es a ,simple fracture might be transformed int o a compound fra cture by thiS mode of procedure, and much more serious results mar e\'en ensue.

Sir Henn' B urdett says, in conclusion, that it seems hopeless to expect a carriage ambulance system for London until the citizens are prepared to pay much hiRher rates than ther pay noll'. But the COSt would not be so crreat, if one may judge by the experience of Take, for one of the four PJSts in this city, the St. Louis H os pital station, and we find that the cost to the Ambulance Society before the transfer to the municipality was about £1,000 a year. This station served six arrondissements, ha"ing- a total population of oyer 700 ,000, while Vienna, with a population of over a million, spends on its ambulance system for the whole city about £5.-1-00, and It must be remembered that the plant and staff are larger than those of the Paris servi::e.

"I am strong-ly of opinion that an incalculable sen·ice would be rendered to the citizens of London by the establishment of four carriage ambulance stations, the maintenance of ,,"hich. including all expenses, wO.lld cost approximately £1,000 a year each.

,. The difference between a stretcher and a horse or motor ambulance in regard to rapidity of transport and prompt medical aid is so el'ident as to be beyond discussion.

<. In regard to the question of borse or motor ambulances. tha t is a point that is at present somewhat premature."

:JIA:-l"CHESTER HORSE .-'\\1I3ULA:\CE SERVICE.-The recent ly established h0rse ambulance service is now proving of the greatest use, as all accidents can now oe removed in a proper way to the Infirmary. The horse ambulance (of which there are four) can be obtained by telephone. Each ambulance c'arriage is in charge ambulance policemen and is provided with all necessary first-:\ld apphances.

A I D.

:ion havini! teen nnished and certain articles still remaining. ,he _isters [he members of the" Gate Fire BrigJ.de who were on duty to bring- in o:her recipients and it is needless to say that the call was willing-h' responded to and in a very shOrt time the unclaimed garmelHs I\ere speedd\' distrii..uted et us hope to worthy recipient ;!tbough th;?y hckeJ the official cket 1t 11':1.5 ple3sing to _ee His \\' orship the \iay or Iwnourlllg' .he mee:lllg with bis presenct'. as h:lirnnn of the Board oi Guardians he knows onh too well the suffering" and "tru;.-,.Ies ot the POI r wi:bin the Borough of whi ch he is the cil'ic head. and lIe ied sure that he lealised to the full the kindly effon" and the de\'otlon tha: h:td c een -bolln D'I" the nursing- of tne d;Yision wh ose he:ldquartt:rs :!re within the district which he a ably preside:,. "-i [h all sincerity 111. Y lIe wish the nurslllg sisteratL.'lci1ed [) the g-ran,i Old Ga:e all SUCcess in their noble work. ;0 them Ihe p;risb o we the inception of the parish nurse :lnd ocher :ldI"3nt:l cres: Ilith lP-em truly the old mOttO" pro u'ilnate hominum' is no idle phuse Tha: their work is appreciated by tbe poor lor whom they,J,o -0 Il'e iull well. ;\by we look for some slia-ht recogn lion 111 Ipgher qu. ners. Inasmuch as ye h::.ve ·ne it U"'ntO the lea,; oi these m\' brethren I"e haye done it Unt;.> me." i" a Scriptu :t1 quotation tiut might ap:ly be applied to these ladles in their l arour of !ol"e "

LETTER::: from :\[r. S. i.loyd , :\1r. '\-ina-ate and others are held CI'er ),\"ing to the pres ure on our £pace.

ted \\' a sam ply proyed on the vccasion of their reeen Chri .:mas dIstribution on \Ye dnesda\".

December .cnd.

"hen our reporter I'isited the old Crypt underneath -the Priory Church which had been kindly at their disposal b): the Rector and Churchwardens. Puncru 111\' .1, 6.:0 L'rge the selected recipients. 1\ ho had been b) ,e RectOr's wife and other I· -:ies interec:ed III dlstnct \\olk, lined up and were admitted to Iyha. mlgh: aptly be cal ed Bount) Hall,' four at a time to receive at the hands of these kindly ladies walm and frocks for the" balTilies and shawls and "arm penicoatsf0r the older recipients. Indeed the tables displayed a wealth of II'lI1ter comforts and one could not bUl feel as they lI'atchea the nursing sisters trying on the \"ariou garments from what seemed an insurmou:1ta h le stOre. how much the poor owed to these ladies who were prepared to del'ote their leisure time d.!ring the year to work ina- on behalf of their less fortunate fellows.

Ranged on ta b les p!les of lit(le crarments conslstlOg of knitted jerseys, socks, petticoats, caps and frocks, on others were woollen comforters, erossol'ers and petticoats for applicants o[ older g-rowth, and in one corner was a ta ble Iaden wi th oranges, cake and sweets for the little ones, and lJeedless to say this table ,,"astbe most the uny reCIpients sisters' crifts. Durincr the evenina a VISIt was p:tld to the Cr) pt b) His \V the :\ 1a)?or of Fillsbury (Enos Esq., J.P.J accompanied by the :\[ayoress, also by the Rc.;ctOI, the Re,. T. , Vood and 1\1rs. ,"Vood and :\lr. Churchwarden Fincham, t.o the latter crentleman we are indebteci for tbe very excellent llghtph?tograph of tJe commencement of the distribution. The ticket dlstnbu·

:'\E\\" The ambulance \'ehicles of [he Royal _-\rrn y :\Iedic,t\ C )rp£ hal'e the subJect of much III South Airic3. ar.d the 'Yar Oifice has resoll'ed to haye the defect remedied. I n order :0 get the I'ery beq "ehicle ,ha Cln be m3de a prize of .6 500 and ano,hel of are to be offered for the best design. The competition \1',[1 be open to 1he public.

PRI:\ CE:":3 C !R':"n-\:,\ Wli , d mribute the medallions and ceninclte of the Centre of the -t. John .\mbulance .-\5 ociation ,It tbe Cr\'sral Pala ce on \Yednesda\'. February 12th,her RoplHighnessbeing President of the :'\ orwood Centre.

:'\ATIO:\'AL FIKE BRIG\l E5 C:,\IO:\ C,\,IBl L-\:\CE DEP -\RT.IE:\T'.On S:lturda\', TIn. Ith. the Hon" District Surgeon, :\lr. A. Green, :'11.') and the chief officer. Captain H" 1'ra::ey. Hon. District Eastern Dis:rict :'\.Hional Fire Brigades Cnion, a:tended at the school t"or the purpOSE ot" examinincr those of the Briga:je who had been undcrcroing a course 01 ambulance trallllllg under tbe Ill5"rt.:ction ot" [he brigade ;urgeon, :\Ir. J. :\lilner. :\!.R

A,t the close the firemen were addre_sed by the Hon DIStTict :'urO'eon, II"ho s:lid he was extremely pleased. and most heonilj. congratulated them and Btigade- :\[ilner on the most satisfactory results ot" tbe seyere through which been put-an exam illatIOn far in advance of that of the t. fohn Ambulance .\ssoIt certainly did all great credit that so brge a percentage should haye successfully passed. There were sel'en members present fo r examination fiye of whom passed most The two whom he lelt he could not conscienti 1usly pass had a good knowledge of ambulance work generally, but not such as would Inrrant him in recommendinO' them for the Red Cross of the :\ational Fll'e Brio-ades ('nioll. ,\ REYIE\\ of the Fire Brigades by H .\I. the K.ing is Ii kelyto take place durin cr the CoronatIOn week.

THE LO:\Do:"' PRI\'ATE FIRE .!3RTGADES· "'ASSOCl.HIO:'. -:: The Fourth Annual ompetition and 10urnament of t,he aoo\ e II III

I ld at the horeditch Public Baths, Pitfield treet. E.C., on Saturda), 1e h th D' Ie Reynolds :\mbu- February ,,"hen amongst ot er eYents e ,\ ,-, • h d lance Challenge Cup will be .for. of the Honorary ecretar)" \\ J. Rushforth, J -, As mea ', John's, S E

FIRST AID.

FEBRUARY 1, 190 2.

As the time draws near for the OoronTHE ation, members of the St. John AmbuCORONATION. lance Brigade al'e querying as to whether any special distinction Wlll be conferred upon the organisation which has done so much towards assisting to ameliorate the sufferings of our sick and wounded soldiers in South Africa. From time to liime many pertin ent enquiries have been adch'essed to us concerning this question, and many suggestions have been thl'own out as to wbat direction snch Roy:-.l favour should take, but the greater num bel' of tho::;;e who make these suggestions seem to have lost sight of the fact that the St John Al'nbulance Bl'igacte as an organisation is a pmely civilian body, and the question is in what way could His l\Iajesty bestow his Royal patronage upon it further than he doe ' a,t prese nt as the Sovereign Head and Pat! on of the Ol·del· of St. J ohn of Jel'usalem in England, of which the Brigade is a component part. One suggestion we have received which commends itself mOl'e than any others, is that the St. John Ambulance Brigade Bearer Oompanies which are now being formed iu connection with the Royal Army Medical Oorps should have some Royal fm d cljstinctive title, and that as a special mark of Royal favollI' the officer.<; in command of the:'Je Bearer OODlpanies should be :::;elected from the Medical and Ambulance officers of the f::)t. John Organisation. As we say, this suggestion commends itself to us, the St. John Ambulance Brigade has proven the veritable sheet anchor of the Army Medic tl Department, and it would be a gracefu l tribute on the part of the Army Service to indnce the War Office authorities to confer upon a certain number of its most painstaking members His Majesty's Commission. That such a compliment would be appl'eciated we know full well, )'md we a l'e sure that the Bearm' Oompanies of St. John would be doubled if men knew that they J, ave the chance of serving under their Own officers, men whom they have learned to esteem, and in whom they have every confidence. The above IS aftel' all but a small matter, and could, we should think, be easily arranged. One other matter also i.' a bnrning question with memb81's of the Brigade. Honours have been distributed to those who have lent their willing aid in the sel'vice of their country, but up to the present the Ohief of the Brigade and his principal1:Lssist3nts have receiv ed n either l'ecognition liOl' thanks for the service they have l·endel·ed. This is not as it ::.hould be, the members of an Ol'ganisation such as this recognise that an honoUl' confened upon their Oh ief l'efiects an honour npon the whole Brigade, and is a l'ecognition of the work of every bel', and tllis lack of recognition is not calculated to mstllm the membel's of what i s admittedly one of the fillest Am bulance Sel'Vices in the world a thol'oucrh confidence ill the powers that l'ule these llltLtters. 0

month the Superintendent of the Rochdale County Pollee (Mr, M·queen) presented a horse ambulance carriage to the chairman of the Ll ttleborough and Wardle District Councils. The police have taken great interest in ambulance work and the carriaae presented was the sixth gi ven to local authori ties i n Rochdale division. !h.e cost the carriage is about £I40. It s intended to present a SimIlar carnage to the Milnrow Council, and out of the Police sports to be held III July Nordeo Council will receive a carriage. monrey has been raised by the athletic sports promoted by the

Nearly £900 has be.en devoted to purchas in g horse ambulance carnages, £480 has been glveo to Northern Police Orphanage lIome at Harrogate, the local war relIef funds have been assisted and other local and distri ct charities have been helped considerably.

IDolunteer flnlbulance Scbool of 3nstructiOtl.

President: Major Andrew tl1aclure, V.D late L ond on Scottish R.V. Office: 23, Cambridge Street, Hyde Pa! k, W.

Sen ior Medical Officer r nstructor: Brigade 5 urgeon Lieut.-Colonel

P. B. GIles, V.D., Wel sh Border Brigade.

CLASSES FOR THE TRAINING OF STRETCHEI{ BEA!'ERS

King's Regulations and Orders for the Army, Section X I V., Para s I733 to 1740 ; and Volunteer Regulation s, Part 1., Sect.ion IV ., Para. 274.

Syllabus of a Course of Instruction to be held at the Headquarters of the London Scotti sh R V , 59, Buckingham Gate, S. \V., commencing at q p.m., on Monday, Fe bruary loth, 1902, by permission of Lt.-Col. E. Balfour, Commanding London Scottish R.V.

LECT URES

Monday, Pebruary loth, at 8 p.m.-Introductory Lecture on the Skeleton, Joints and Muscle s. Brig.-Surg. Lt.-Col. P. Giles, V,D. Monday, February 17th, at 8 p.m.-The Lungs and I{espiration.

February, 1902.J FIRST Alb: @ur }portrait

"OUR ROLL OF HONOUR."

I NTERSPERSED with the pcl'tmit::-; which appear monthly of those who ta ke an n.ctive in tel'est in the cause of ambulanee, it is om' intention to puhlish the POI'traits of tho se men who, in t heir love fOl' the cause, have O'iven their lives in the :-;e\'viee of theil' co unhy. \V e :-;b o11 be pleased to receive hom su and othel's intel'e sted in the men who have fallen in Routh Africa clul"in cr the p l' e sen twa l' photogl'aphs anel a lJl'ief l'eCOl'c1 of the :-;el'vice of Ully mem bel' of tlle 1tegu lal' 01' Auxiliary fOl'ces, indULling of course those belonging to the St. John Ambulance .81·igade. 1n cOllnection with this scheme this month appears a portrait of

bEHGEA:-I'f PERCY W. PLU:'I1B, "T. JOliN'S G.ATE No.1 DIYISrox METROPOLITAN S.J.A,B.

$t. 30bn flnlbulance 113rigabe.

CORPS.- With reference to the paragraph that appea red 111 the December number about this Corps, we have received a letter from Mr. Stamp in which he wishes it to be stated that the first overtures for reconciliation came from the local Brigade Committee. and after their appeal it was decided to rejoio the St.J ohn Ambulance Brigade, and also thatduriog the secession the corps flourished exceedinaly. B RISTOL.-The report of the City of Bristol Corps for 1900- "'has been It rlcords gratifYlllg progress, many men having jomed, prl11clpally as the result of coures of lectures helll in the early part of the year. The officers number eight, non-commissiooed nine. an d privates 97-an increase since the last report of 6 9. members of the Derby Division held a church parade on Sunday, January 18th, meeting at the honorary surgeon's (Dr. Cassidi's), L:)odon ROild, and marching '.0 St. Andrew's Church, where service was conducted by the vicar, the Rev, R. A. H. Hay, in the presen ce of a large coogregation. The sermon was preached by the Rev. J. Blake .\lillward, curate.

DEFBY CORps.-The members of the active sections of the St. John Ambulaoce Brigade and the ::-rorth Midland Bearer Compaoy were entertained to a complimentary dinner at the DerIVeot Hotel. Derby, by '\1r. H. Barker, the proprietor of that establishmeot, 'l he chair was occupied by Dr. F. Cassidi (hon. surgeon), and among those preseot were-Captain Gisborne, Surgeon-major Nicholas, Major :'IIedhurst (Gibraltar), f:hrgeoo-l ieuteoant-co lonel Gentles, Surgeon-captaio Wilsoo, Captain T. Clifford Newbold, Lieutenant H. G. Ley -Full justice having been done to an excellent repast, the loyal toasts were submitted from the chair aDd duly honoured, and then Councillor Dr. Laurie proposed' Our lmperial- Forces in appropriate terms.- The toast was heartily drunk, aDd :::lurgeon-major Ni cholas suitably replied, Surgeon-lieutenant-colooel Geodes. in pro -

"

"2.j.th,,, The Treatment of the apparently drowned. Burns and Scalds. Shock. Surg.-Capt. G. C. Ferguson, M.B., Loodoo ;:)cottish R.V.

A HORSE A:\I BULANCE FOR SALFORD.-The Corporation of Salford have decided to establish a horge ambulance service fo r the borough. The watch committee, who have had the subject in hand, obtained information from a number of towns possess ing horse a mbulances, with the result that the Corporation have given instructions to the committee to obtain ter.ders for the supply of an ambulance carriage. When the service is established the ambulance will be at the call of the public fo r accidents in the st;eets and workshops of the town.

THE MAy-OATWAY FIRE ALAR:\L-A most simple, effective and inexpensive systelT! of giving waroing of the outbreak of fire in buildings of any description was practically demonstrated at the New Town Hall Buildings at llford on the I7th ult. Every room of this structure is connected with the Fire Station and housekeepers offices, and in the entrance hall is an indicator which gives the /(} ca/e of the fire. The system is known as the May-Oatway (53 New Broad Street, E.C.), and consists only of a copper wire stretched across an iron bar, which wire is con nected with a regulating thermometer, and this under certain cooditlons sets up automatic cootact with an electrical system, and gives the alarm at the three places named. One would suppose that the ordinary lighting up and fi llin g of the building with humanity, thus causing a rise in temperature, and hence setting the alarms in action, without there beiog a fire, is liKely to occur, but such is avoided by the scie'ltific arrangement of the copper and iron. The system is simplicity itself, there is nothing io get out of order, and it can be applied to new or old structures at very little cost. As at a near date it is the intention of the proprietors of FmST AID to considerably enlarge this journal, and incorporate the sister service, Fire, it w ill be our ple:J.sure to again refer to this valuable inv entioo.

Sergeant Plumb, who joined the Brigctde in 1899, was one of the first to volunteel' for service in f::)outh Africa,ancl in Jan., 1900, he was enrolled in the contingent for duty with the Princess Ol)l'i:::tian Hospital Train. While out on thiR occasion he contracted rh eumatic fever and was inv alided borne. After a rest howevfl he again volunteel'ecl, and having been duly passed elS fit for sel'vice, he once again l'etllrned to the fl'ont, and those of his fri ends who saw him off felt assured that the voyage out and the gonialit.y of the climate would, as in the case of othel' men who had run down, thoL'oughly recuperate him. Fo!' a time this view was confil'med, in his letters home he spoke of how impl'O\-ed he was in health, and refel'l'eu to the intere st he was taking in his wol'le Unfortun ately in the dischrt1'ge of his duty he was too anxious, and desirous of nOli giving in a second time, with the result that he ovel'wurked himself, coutmcted enteric and succumbed to its effects. Hi s comrades speak of him and hi::; devotion to his duty in most afFectionate tel'l11S. ft. nd in recognition have hown theil' mark of esteem by erecting a headstone over the gl'ave where he ::;leeps far from the SistCl'S who were so devotedly a,ttachec1 to their unly brothel'. He was aD earnest" first-aider," frank and open h&1.1' tec1, and from all sides we have heard expressions of regret at his untimely death. That his memory will ever remain with those with whom he was associated in our WOl'k we are assul'ed, to know him W<1 S to like him, hut to be associated with him in his self-sacl'ificin6' work was to be a::-;sul'ed of his love for it, a.nd his devotion to the clnty he had volllntary undertaken. Fil'st-n.iders will unite in sympathising with his two ol'phn.n sisters who mourn the loss of their only brother.

In our Portrait Gallery la s an error appeared which stated that Miss Coulcher met the late Col. Duncan in cor.nection with Ambulance work in 1872, it should have been I879 the Ambulance work of the Order had not cummenced at the former date.

The Mayor and Corporation of Der by,' said Derby had had no occasion to be ashamed of th<:ir :'If ayor He was old enough to remem ber seeiog 30 Mayors of the Borou h, and he was sure they had all done their best for the town just the same as the members ot the Corporation had done. (Hear, hear.) Diverting from the subject of his toast, he said it was a grrat pleasure tf) him to see [aces around him that he first became acquainted with in ambulance classes. Those who had beeo to South Africa had see:l a great deal more than he had io that respect, and it did him good to see them there. (Applause.)-The toast was heartily drunk, and Captain Clifford Newbold, io resprmding, assured the members of the ,\m bulance Brigade and Midlaod Bearer Company that he would sooner meet them in that Hotel than in South Africa, because if he had met him there it might have bee n under uofortunate circumstances. Still if that had beeo the case there was no one he wO'lld sooner have been treated by than the members of the St. John Am bulance.-Captain Lionel Gisborne proposed 'The Active Service Section of St. John Ambulance Brigade and North Midland Bearer Company. They volunteered to go out there not to take part in the fighting, but to help in the alleviatioo of wounds aDd sickness, and he knew only too well the clangers they rao in performiog their duties. He felt sure that Derby and the whole country honoured them for what they did, and he must say that the hospital arrange.nents and the way in which the wounde .i were cared for set a glorious example to the world. (A pplause.)-The toast was en thusiastically drunk, and Fourth Officer \Vare and Lance-corporal Towers responded Lieut. Godon Ley proposed The Visitors,' [or whom Surgeoo-captain \Vil so o (who referred in glowing terms to the work of the ambu lance aDd Volunteer mer. in South Africa), aDd \oJaj or Medhurst (who was formerly staff paymaster for the 45th Regim ental District, and who is now stationed at Gibraltar responded. (Hear, hear.)-Sergeaot Layzell proposed: The h ealth of Mr. Barker' in felicitous terms aDd thanked him , not only tor his kindoess io inviting the meo to dinoer, but fo r his many kindnesses to the ambulance men and the way in which he had encouraaed them in their work. (Applause.)-The toast drunk with musi;al hooours, a nd [\[r. Barker SUItably replied.During the evening songs were reodered by Surgeoo-captaio W,ilson, Staff-sergeant Piper Sergeant Pope, Laoce-corpo:-al Towers, PrIvates Endsor and Dugdale, aDd .\Ie5s rs. F. Drummond and \V. Owens, the duets of the last mentioned two beiog greatly appreciated. l\lr. J. A. Soar efficiently accom panied.

LINCOLN DIVLJO -A meeting was held at the Guildhall on January 8th, to present South African medals to. the members of. the division who had proceeded to front! and to a class held recently in connectIOn WIth the L1I1coin DIVISion. !he certificates aDd medallions were presented by the i\Iay or (Councillor Rudd ock), and it was hoped that the of the South Afrimn medals would have beeo made bv Colonel Hl11de, but unfortuoately other duties prevented his alten"dance. The of division received a letter from the gallant officer, III which he saId:

"It is so excellent a cause in which you and those under you are engaged that I regret that I am unable to be present. for I know how much from personal experience what we. owe ,;0 such men as those who belon a to the St .Tohn Ambulance BrIgade. Capt. H. Newsum, who kindiy undertook the presen tation in the absence of Colonel

Hinde said he could speak feelingly on behalf of the work of the St. John Orderly, [or he had been in hospital three times, and he knew the care and devotion paid by the Ambulance Orderly of ::)t. John as compared witb the unskilled attention paid by the ofttimes untrained Orderly. The certificates and medallions were afterwards presented by the :\Iayor, pre\ ious to which a short report of the work of the session was read by Sl1pt. Deighton. The :\layor in a few br,ef remarks congr;ttulated the recipients of the certificates and medallions, and commented upon the advanl;]ges of first aid. Later on a presentation wa s made to Hon.- urg-eon Lambert. The announcement made by Capt. i'\e\\'sum that the Lincoln Volunteer officers had decided to place at the of the .Lincoln Division Rt. Ambulance Brio-ade the gymnasium for dnll purposes was received with rapturous applause. Hon. Surgeon Lambert feelingly acknowledg-ed this kindly tribute to their work, and said that he was glad to hear that when the active service Company of the Lincoln Regiment returned, they, in common with the ambulance man, would receive the fretdom of the city.

LITTLEHA:llPTO •. -The deplorable railway fatality :tt the Littlehampton terminus provides another of those instances wbicb are constantly recurring of the great yalue to he derived from instruction in am b ulance work. There is also anolher matter which this painful event recalls to mind, and that is tbe necessity of an ambulance van, for the Lttlehampton district. illindful of the fact that the nearest hosp tolls are those at ,Vorthing and Chichester, several influential people expressed the hope about a year ago that such a van might be provided in whi c h to con\'ey lnJured persons from Littlehampton. The suggestion, bOllever, like many ::tnother before it, appears to have been completely lost Sight of.

alarming railwar accident oc curred just outside :'\1anchester recently, and was bappily unattended by loss of life, but resulted in se'eral perso ns bein,!! more or less seriously injured, besides causiug conSiderable dam a ge and delaying- traffic for so me time, Two trains came into collision a fell' hundred yards from the new station at Pendleton. Ambulance men with stretchers were summoned, rendered very valuable assistance in attending to the wants of the injllred people and seeing to their conveyance to the hospital beinomade casy, Time after time the value of a knowledo-e of work ha2 been shown at railway accidents, and once "'more people so equipped proved most useful.

MA);CHESTER AND SALFOR D Dn; rsrO.'I -On Xew Years E\'e a special performance was given by tbe celebrated Thomas-Edi=on Animated Pictures Company at the Great St. James's Hall. l\1ancbester, on behalf of the :\Ianchester and Salfurd St. Jobn Ambulance Brigade, and tbe :\lanchester and Salford Police Orphanao-e. Tbedoors opened at 12 midnight on December 31St. Igor. and fbe performance commenced at 12, 30 a, m. January 1st, Jg02 A large audience filled the hall, and a very good performance was o-iven. The whole of the receipts are to be gil' _n to the above deservin 0' charities.

NE\\ TO:-< ABBO'!' DrvrsI01I.-Colonel Sir Herb e rt C Perrott the chief secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association, 'inspected the Newton i\bLot division of the Brigade in the vVolborough Hall. The men were put through the usual drills, and also the Royal Army Medical Corps' drill. ." mong those accompanyinO' Sir Herbert were Lady Perrott, :\]r5. :\Iarcus Hare, Captain :\1r. W. J. Watts, junr, and :\Ir. Owen-Tucker. Sir Herbert complimented the division on its efficiency. although its work was not perfect. He encouraged the members to arduously pursue their work and to aim at becoming one of the best, if not the best, di"ision in 'Eno-land. He noticed tbat three 0: the members were weariug tbe African Medal, and eulogised the manner in the members of the Brigade to serve tbelr Sovereign country, thus risking their lives 111 the attempt to al!evmte the suffering of their fallen comrades. Out.of the ,z,ooo members who .went to South Africa 60 or 70 had nobly dled whde carrylllg out their humane work.- :\1rs. :\Iarcus lIart; was thanked for hiring the hall for the inspectio 1 a nd a photograph of the members of the division was to her by Dr. R. H. Grimbly, the honorary su rg-eon.

largely-allended meeting was held in the Guildhall. Northampton, for the purpose of presentino- war medals to 30 members of Corps, who had serving in tbe Royal Army :.\Iedlcal Corps.ln South. Afnca during the last two years. The (Alderman Adnltt) preSided, supported by Earl Spencer, the of Northampton, Colonel Orde-Powlett. Deputy-Com-missioner G. S. Elliston, Asslstant,Commissioner r. H. ·Woolston and other influential local. gentlemen. The Mayor ha vi ng add ressed the men, called upon the Deputy-.Commlssloner for that l!1 strict, to open the proceed ings. Colonel Elliston that a pleaslng duty devolved upon him in the of lh.e Earl Spencer, K.G., to prethe medals. Lord Spencer, 111 hlS address, said that he was very proud tbat such a large number of ambulance men in that town and county had volur;teere-:l to go out to the war, and sba , e in the hardships and dangers of their regular bretbren of the R.A.M.C, in the hospitals and ambulances of South Africa. He reminded them that it

was nearly 12 months ago when many of them who had returned home were entertained in that hall, and at the Banquet Lord Northampton read that touching message from Her late Majesty thanki n g them for their" voluntary service of mercy" in South Africa. That message had a pathedc interest, as it was the last she sent to any body of her subjects. Colonel Elliston and Mr. Woolston then presented each man to Lord Spencer, who handed t!-:em the meda l s, and they were t.hen pinned on their breasts by the nursing sisters, who were present in uniform. The Marquis of .\l'orthampton proposed a vote of thanks to Lord Spencer and the and at the close of the proceedings called for <, God s:tve the King," which was beartily and loyally responded to.

RAM:>GATE ('oRPs.-At the Artillery Drill Shed, H igh Street, 011 Thursday afternoon, January 2nd, Lieut. General Sir Charles Warren presented medals to those members of tbe Ramsgate Town Division of the Brigade who have seen service in connection with the South African War. There were a good number of members on parade, including nUising sisters, policemen, railway men, &c. The officers on duty were: Dr. Courtney, chief supt.; Dr. Griffiths, supt. and hon. surg-eon; Dr Cotton and Dr. \Voods, hon, surgeons; Supt. Venis, Division; and First Officers Conconi and Kinmont. Amongst those who 1yitnessed tbe cer C' mony were: Ylr. II. Veigall, Lady Rose Weigall, Col. Daniel, Col. Gilbert, Capt K. Daniel, and Lieut, t'age, &c. Sir Charles \Varren, in the course of a speech previous to presentation, said only about two years "go they thought that an army of 20,000 men was a large force, but since then their views had changed \'ery much, and now they had about ten times that numher in the field, and during tbe progress of the war they h1.d lost in killed, died of ,vounds and sickness, a number equal to what they considered a large army. Ramsgate had Gone its duty and sent forth its quota of yolunte l's to take part in this great work of attending to the sick and ,vounded. The men had been engaged in the hospital ships, i,l the base hospitals at Cape Town and Durban, and some had been employed on the hospital train, going backwards and forwards flom the scene of action. He did not th in k that they qUite recognised the immense importance of the work tbat had been done. It had been rather put out by what a few had said with regard to the medical department, but he was sure tbat all who had been to South Africa could testify to the good work done by tbe medical department. The self- sacrifice of the medical offiCcers was something extraordinary, and the same might be said of thC'se who a.ssisted them ir; all departments. Another thing that one must notice was the extraordinary success of the medical operations performed under trying circumstances, and resulting in the most wonderful cures. It ·was quite common for men to be sbot through the body , and back again to duty within a month. The St. 10hn Ambulance Brigade seemed to have sprung into existence in tbe nick of time. Its work had not been going very many years. and if it had not been established in the country it would have been very difficult to carry OUL the work in South Africa as it had been carried out. People had been working at it year after year, and h::tdgradually acquired knowledge which had been of great service to the Army. Every gratitude was oue to the Bngade, the members of which had given their time and studies and laoours to teach and learn their duties so that tbey bad been able to carry out their work 80 satisfactorily, not only in SJuth Africa but in C:-rina also. The medals were then pre:-ented to Sergt. Paterson, Corp. l.'nderdown, Pte. Gorham, Pte. Rose and Pte. Miller. Dr. Courtney thanked Sir Cbarles for having attended, and stated that cUiiously enouO'h the five Ramsgate Volunteels h<ld practically covered the whole extent of t!Je operations. These men had practically covered from London and Aldershot to Pretoria, Bloemfontein, Mafeking. Ladysmith and Durban. Conclllding, Dr. Courtney thani>ed Sir Charles for his address, which he said had been much appreciated, and the occasion would be remembered by the men for many ; ears, and those who had received the medals woulci remember it to the end of their lives (applause). Dr. Griffiths seconded, and three hearty cheers were given for General ,:,ir Charles Warre:l, who briefly returned thanks. At the conclusion of the ceremony those on parade journeyed to the Victoria Hotel, and partook o[ an tea. Dr. Courtney, who is alJout to r.::sign his position as Chief Superintendent of the Ramsgate Division, and wbo is about to take up a more important office in the Brigade in the district, was presented with a handsome malacca walking-stick and a combination silver match - box and sovereign case. The presentation was made by Corpl. Coleman, and Dr. Griffiths made a neat speech. A p easant evening WJ.S spent, songs, etc., being rendered by the company. -

SllEFF.EJ.D -Colonel ;VI. D O'Connell, commanding tbe Royal Army .\ledical Corps, North - East District, attended by Lieu1. Clarke, R.A.M C was present in Sheffield for the purpose o f inspecting and taking over from the brigade authorities one of the new bearer companies that have been accepted by the \Var Office [rom the St. John Ambulance Brigade for service i,. the event of the mobilisation o f tbe Army for home defe n ce. Ten companies in all wil l be form ed Sheffieid being the third to be handed over, and beari n g the n u mber 30, being- preceded by companies at Bolton and Preston Th e company was exercised by its non-commissio ne cl officers i n foot drill,

F ebr u ary , 1902.1

FIRST AID. G3

s t retc h er drill, ha n d - seat dri II first -aid, and bandag ng, and they were close y questioned by the inspecting officer. Colopel O'Connell, addressing the company, said it had g i ven him great pleasure to make h at, the l:irst, ins o ection, and to see the drilling so admirably performed. H e would be pleased to make a very =atisfactory report to headquarte r s In conclusion he complimented Chief Supt. Chambers and Sergoant-Major Webb on the capital result of their careful training of the company.

VENTNOk D1VlSION - l n connection with and in aid of the Ventnor Division, an excellellt entertainment waS recently given in the Town Ha ll though it had not the public support it deserved. A great feature in the evening's programme was Gome excellent tableau arranged by Mrs J. Matthews and they were warmly applauded.

1RfliIwa\? Bmbulance.

THE funeral of the late Stanley Ashton, of the Liverpool Street Division of the Great t:astern Railway Corps, took place at the "YVest Ham emetery on Monday, January 6th. The dece'l.sed \I'as a member of the Great Eastern Railway Ambulance Corps, and the coffin was borne to the cemetery on the shoulders of his comrades. At the close of the church service the l:irst verse of the hymn, "Rock of Ages," was sung by those present. The deceased was well-known in ambulance and l:irst aid circles, and be formed one:)f the team who on two occasions won the rational Challenge Shield presented by the S1. John Ambulance Association, and also the Easlern Railway Challen;;-e Cup. By his death the Liverpool Street Division loses one of its most valued and trusted members. A large crowd assembled at tbe graveside in order to pay a last Iespect to their late friend .:)tan ley Ashton was a keen ambulance man, and had earned higl:: tributes from those who had come in to contact with him in his ambulance work His premature death will be felt for a long time amongst his comrades on the Great Eastern Railway. May his devotion to and interest in the work act as a to his comrades.

MmLAND RAILWAY, ST. P_-\ 'CRAS,-On the 3rd January a "ery interesting evening was spent at the station in connection with the ambulance men, when cel tificates and medal liens were presented to 43 successful members by Mr. H. Tylston, (;<.1. R. director), who spoke of the interest taken by the board of directors in ambulance work, and advised the members in all cases of rendering" first aid to the injured" to be prom pt, be gen tie, be earnest, be firm.

<torrespo nbcnce.

To the Editor of FIRST AID.

SJR,-I desire, as it is most important, to draw the attention of First Aid students and Ambulance men to the following letter which appeared in The Lancet of January 4th, Ig02.

The too frequent practice, in any case of hremorrhage, of applying a band around the limb between the heart and bleeding points, or of applying a tourniquet improperly, whereb\' tbe yenous circulation is impeded, whilst the arterial is uncontrolled, is repeatedly pointed out by the seyerallecturers attached to the St. 1chn Ambulance Association. This letter will o:till further impress upon them the seriousness of such a step. have tbe honour to be, Yours obediently, S. " F.R.C.S, la, Devonshire Street, Portland Place, W. FI R ST AID FOR PRIMARY hfEMORRHAGE: THE WROi'\G TEAC H ING GIVEN TO A:\1BULANCE CLAS:::;ES.

To the Eddors of THE LANCET.

" Sms,- T he practical outcome of notions stated to h<lve been acquired at ambulance classes as regardS the first aid for primary hccmorrhage has come under my notice in many cases admitted under my care at the W estminster Hospital. The reoult has been to increase, in some cases ve r y largely, tbe amount of bleeding over and abcye that which would h ave occurred had no such first aid been applied.

" It wou d appear that instruction is gi\'en in such classes \\hich i., not informed by the actual requirements of practical surgery. Those who have attended such classes seem to have got the idea fixed in their minds that they must always apply some sort of an improvised tourniquet to tbe limb above the bleeding point, whilst they have not learned in these classes the necessity of applying pressure directly to the wound. The uninstructed individual, etaining his presence of mind, might apply pressure tiirectly and so in the gl'eat majority of cases successfully control the hccillorrhage until the arrival of medical help. Those w h o h ave been wrongly instructed as regards this firbt aid do not understand that by app lying an improvised to u rniquet above the bleed i ng point short of abso utely controlling all the circu lation they d. rectly ca u Se venO\lS obstruction and raise the venous tension so as to

aJ)proach that in the corresponding arteries. It is tbus easy for a large p'an of the patient's bloJd to. be. forced out of a very small wound slmply as the result of the applicatIOn of such a tourniquet. "Instances of entirely unnecessary hwmorrhage caused in this way have been seen by me most frequently in cases of ruptured varicose veins, superficial lacerated wounds and compound fractures. The most absurd instances are the cases of ruptured varicose veins and varicose ulcers, [or the elevation of the limb or the sliC7btest pressure with the finger would have sufficed to stop the To quote on.e, A man struck his le.g against the corner of a box, causing a mln.ute puncture, such as mlgbt be made.bya tenotome,in a varicosity behmd tbe knee. HIS fellow-workmen tied a handkerchief round the thigh sufficiently tight to cause venous but did not apply any pressure over the bleedlllg ThiS what they said they had been taught to do. By the time the patlent reached the hospital he w.as acutelx anccmic. I saw him immediately on admission; he was mfused With sallile flUid and recovered, but a month later he was still anocmic. There was no further bleeding from the pun c ture directly the constricting handkerchief was removed.

"Quite recently two mel"' were admitted to the hospital with wounds about the el?ow. ·With otber men tbey had been Ilftlllg a large plate of glass \\hlch suddenly broke in pieces and cut them. A bandage was at once applied, in eacb case above the wound, from which they continued tf) bleed severely, and were both "ery all[cmic on reaching the hospital. A careful examination under an anresthetic showed that on ly the superficial I'eins about the elbow had been Jivided. 1\ either the brachial artery nor its branch s had been injured. The effect of the band::tges applied above the "ounds had been to cause a forced venesec tion in each case, rendering infusion necessary. The an cc mia markedly delayed healing. Sim lar altogether unnecessary lo=s of blood has occurred in cases of compound fractures. In the following one I belie\ e the improl ised tourniquet to have been the direct caLlse of the patient's dea th. A strong y o ung man, aged 20 years, sust:tined a compound fracture of the lower third of the femur, with protrusion of the upper frar,ment. There was no further injury, the pOst-m0rtem examination showed; the popliteal artery and \'ein, also the anas tomoti c artery, were uninjured. Ollly the muscles of the 101\·er third of the including terminal branches of the profunda artery and vein, were lacer:.tted. Immediately after the accident a band was tied round the thigh above the wound, and the man \\ as carried straight to the h o spit.t1. r happened to see him as he was brought in. He was then absolulely anremic; his blood had saturated all the clothes of the lower limb. The half-tight constricting handkerchief was remo\ ed. and no Jlo od escaping, a pad and firm bandage were applied over tbe wound. Be was then quickly infused with six pints of saline fluid, ;timulating rectal enemata, injections and drinks being also tried, b ut he died in abJut an bour. The post-mortem report says that the cadaver was exsanO'uine. Such a compound fracture without complications in a health"'y young man is, of course, quite consistent with reco\·ery. Tbe application of direct pressure is the proper ii St ai::! in all cases. The vast m:tjority of such c:tses are su perficial le s ions of I'eins and small arteries. Supposing the much rarer instance of hccmorrhage from a laro-e artery, the wound must be directly pressed upon, or too much bloo"'d will be lost whilst a tourniquet is being impro\··sed. First aid has been successfully rendered-e.g., by army medical offi cerseither by pressure with the bare finger or along with the interposition of a plug, directly upon the cut artery. It must surely tend to confusion if in an elemenlary ambulance class the teacher en tel's upon the subject of the circulation and the compl'ession of the main arteries. One hears about ladies being taught to compress the femoral artery of a little boy. but are they told at the same time how difficult this woull be to accomplish in an excited or restless adult - a muscular man or fat woman?

"When told to use improvised tourniquets is it explained to the class how tightly a surgeon has to apply a? elastic even on an unconscious patient to control fu.lly the SUJ)posll1g a tourniquet to be applied tightly to a conscIOus patient, such pain is caused that the ,patient will wTlggle and try to push the band a little lower down the lImb, so slackening It • It mar be ar.gued that pressure should first be applied to .the bleedi!1g point, and then an impro\.'ised tourniquet made to enCIrcle the 11mb abo\·e. Tbe most probable result. say in the case of deep hccmorr.hag.e from. a puncture or bullet ,yound wdl be to raise "enous tension 111 the 11mb, and the blood being pre\,ented from escaping by the \\'ound it becomes widely extravasated into the 11mb. and thiS may le1.d to gangrene and amputation. In conclusion, therefore, 1 desire to point out that in first aid for pnmary hxmorrbage wblch does not put direct pressure upon the wound forward as only method, to be kept up until m.edic:ll help comes, fads ln Its object. Secondly, tbe instruction as to lmprOYISed tourniquets shows a lack of with the actual circumstances intended t<J be met. The result 15 tbe production of an unnecessary, dangerous. amount of hxmorrhage o ina to venous obstruction whilst tbe 1ll:t1l1 artery still contlilues to c;ry'''blood to the limb. In the cases which hal·e fallen under my

not ice wher e an i mprovised tourniquet has been used much m o e blood has been lost than would h;\\-e taken place had no such" first a Id " been g i ven_

II Cec. 30th, rgor.

AID. [February, 1902.

"I am, Sirs, yours fai'hfully_ G. SPEl'lrER, " Surgeon to the Vestminster Hospital."

To the Editor of FIRST AID. SIR, My comrades and were ple"sed at your. 111 ][1serting my letter in your Journal of December, but It IS pomted out by one of them that my remarks about the of the Hospitals Association Litters were omitted. J sbowed tbe Journal to a fnend o f mine a contractor's foreman of 40 years experience in connection 'with Gove'rnment contracts for su pply ing horses and drivers for di spatch carts and prison vans, he says that my idea of ambula nce waggons J.;eFt as I describe would cost about £2.800 a year for coac h men and horses alwa ys on duty, this sum, of course, wou ld but the building of the sheds woul:! be a separate charge 1D with the purchase of the waggons, the former cou ld be built In the corner of the parade ground attached to a station, so there woul d be no o-round to purchase. r see by rour paper that the L O;ldon County have under consideration a scbeme for an ambulance service, could not this be run in connection ",ith the poli ce, the station yards were at one time used for the sta nding of fire escapes. My object in writing now is to suggest in a small way how to increase the sale of your paper among the police. Tf it could be on sale at .gates o Etbe Me tropolitan police on first " 'e?nesday after It IS published policemen would see It and buy It; many, perhaps ha\'e never seen It, would be interested to learn what its cOCitents were. am strongly of opinion that if the section men, that is the could see it they would be more likely to take a further mterest In ambulance work, in addition to this I \yish models of ambulance waggons. stretchers and otber appliances could be kept at the training ground for police re c ruits, in order that they might learn the use of the same while undergoing their preliminary training. At present there is very little to make the subject of ambulance work interesting, or to teach the police recruit to properly appreciate its value in connect on with their duties. If this could be done and your valua ble journal circulated more fully amongst the members of the police force r believe that fi rst aid work would take a greater h old on our police force. Hoping you will pardon the length of this letter, and. my apparent presumption, and regard it as the outcome of the keen mter est I take in tbe work ani trusting tbat your interesting ourna has many years of useful work before it.

I remain, Sir, Yours respectfully, P. S.

SOUTH AF RI CA;.,r MEMORIAL.

To the Editor of FIRST AID.

DEAR SIR, In our last divisional orders it stated that the memorial for those who bave fallen in South Africa (for wbi ch our division have all subscribed) is to be placed in the crypt of 8t. Paul's Catbedral, we think it should surely h ave a more prominent position than the one chosen. lYe think a more suitable place wo ul d be at St. John's Ga te or the new drill hall n o w in course of construction. \ Ve who lost our chums who went wi th us to South Africa, fee very strongly upon this matter, and certainly do not think th at the memorial sf:!ould be buried away fr om public view. H o ping to hear m o re from o ther divisions upon this matter through the columns of FIRST Am. \\-e remain,

Faithfully yours (T\YO KAFFIRS) l\o. 5 Division.

T HE ST A:XDREW'S AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION.-The ;'t Andrew 's Ambulance Association is in a flourishing condition in Edinburgh. At a recent meeting of the Executive Committee, he ld under the pres idency of Dr P A. Yo ung, tbe ann ual report showed that some 560 pupils had attended the classes held in Edinburgh a lld t he district. Of these, ++7 had passed. This showed an in c ease of over r oo on the preceding year. The record increase in the number. of waggon removals of last year bad also been maint tined. This year the number of removals was 1,272 five years ago it was 'Jnly 80S Sufficient func1s had been raised to purchase a new ambulance waggon. It has lately been proposed that the Grand Priory of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in Eng la nd should be approached with the view of the St. Andrews Ambulance becoming the ambulance department of that Order in Scotland, in the same way as the St. John Ambulance is in England.

A N;\,UAL Dl:-lNER OF MESSRS. CLARKE, NICHOLLS & COOl\1B'S FIRE B RIGADE AND AMB ULANCE DIVI SION.-The third annual dinner o f the Clarnico "olunteer Fire Bri gaJe :1. nd Ambulance Division S t .J o hn Am bulance B rigad e :1.nd B rass Band, inaugurated by the well known firm of Clarke, Ni cholls &- C oo mbs, Ltd., was h e ld in the handsome dining room at their factory a Hackney Wick, on S aturday, January

I Ith. The day bei ng somewbat dirty, the in sp ect ion was held in one of the a rge packing rooms. The men num bere d s ixty- fo ur of the Fire Brigade and twenty-four of the Ambulance Divisio n, together with the B rass Band. The men presented a very workmanlike and srr.a r t appeara n ce a nd stood at the salute when-Cap ta ins H M iller a nd A. T. Dale arrived, their uniforms a nd equipment generally gave great sat isfact ion, and Capt G. Horn and Sup t Simp son are to be congrat ula ted upon tbe turn -out. It was s tated th at during the yea r the Fire Brigade had attended two outbreaks, in one of which a me m ber was somewhat se ri 0 u s ly injured, and tbe Ambulance had attended a large number of accidents with excellent re s ult s The se riousness of some of the accidents in this great fa ctory, whi ch employs many thousands of hands, can be readily understood wh en it is mentioned that no less tban \.welve cases h ad to be reported to the Inspector of Factories. At the dinner presid ed over by Alexander Horn, Esq wbo was supported by G. Ma tthieso n, Esq (1I1anagi ng Directors of the firm) seven St. Jobn medallions were presented. The dinner was most excellently served, and be speecbes were sbort as the musical " 'as of some length. The band ga ve a m ost charming selection in very superior sty le , and wben at the end of the same it WlS unnounced tha Capt. Horn, who had not only organis e d the Fire Brigade. Am b ul ance and Band h ut who has also instituted a cla ss :or the nursing sisters, had volunteered for tbe 'Var he received a great ovation. It is indeed certain that Capt. F. Horn is not only a most popular man but a most efficient organiser.

ST. JO HN A:lmULANCE BH.IGADE AND RECR C ITING. -The Inspector- General of Recruiting has issued the following memorandum to general officers commanding c1istricts :-" Many instances having recentl y been brought to notice in which men of the S1. John Am bulance Brigade and othe rs applying for enlist men t in tbe Royal Army Medical Corps for service during the war in Africa, un der Army Orders 86 and r59 of I gor, have not found every facility afforded them by the recruiting authorities, the attention of officers commandi ng recruiting areas is drawn to the fact. E,'ery step poss i bl e sh'Juld be taken to facilitate the enlistment of such men, as the greatest difficu lty is experienced in providing for the continual drafts of the Royal Army Medical Corps requisitioned for service in South Africa."

FIR ST -AIDERS and Firemen will learn with regret that \V orth of Bournmouth, a prominent worker, esteemed comrade and a kind and generous friend in the Ambulance and Fire Services passed away on the r8th ult.

CO U PO N TI eKE T

SPBCIALLY GUARANTEED BY

The Ocean Accident & Guarantee Corporation, LIMITED.

40, 42 , & 44, MOORGATE STREET, LONDON, E.C.

to whom Notice of Claims, under the following conditions, must be sent within seven days of accident to the above address.}

600093

·£100

wil l be paid by the above Corporation to the legal representative of anyone wh o is killed by an accident o the Passcnger f rain (with in the United Kingdom or Ch annel l slauJs), ill which the Lleceased was a ticket bearing or paying passenger, or who sball ha\'e been fatally injured thereby (should death es ult wi th in ninety days after such accident).

PROVIDED that the person so killed or injured had upon his or h er p erso n or had left at home this t icket. with his, or her, usual signature, written prior to the

The Independent Journal for the Ambulance and Fire Services.

IMPOR.TANT NOTICE. - The date of publication of "First Aid" will in future be the 20th of the month_ The Editorial and Publishing offices of the Journal a re now at 46, Cannon Street, E.C.

To Our R.eaders. ..\, it is the earnest \\ ish and clesire of th e new Proprietors to make this Journal a. attracti\-e and entertaining as pos'illle, co rr espondents in all parts of the country are asked to gi\'c it a ll the help th ey can. Superintendents of Corps and Officers of Dh'ision. of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Officers of thc \ 'o lu nteer ;,[edical Staff Corps, the \ o l ul1teer \.m hulance School of In struction, and Chief Officers of Fire Brigades will, it is hoped, do their best to make it kno\\ n amongst the memhers of their respectiYe organisations, and II ill al:o end for puhlication their official news and notices. Suggestions are im iteJ [or Prizc Competitions and nt her matters \\ hich \\ ill ad\·:1.nce the interest o[ th e Journ a l.

\Y e particularly desire to ask ou correspo nd ents to be hrief :1.nd to the po int in any co mmunicati ons they may send us [or publication \Ve a rc plcased to record the fact that we :1.rc already receiYing a great accession of support from a ll parts of the country, and as our space is some\\ hat limited, in dealing \\ ith reports of local medinas [or presentation of certificates, L\.C., it wuult! be hetter that a brief O>report were \I rillen, giying a short resume of the 'arious poillts touchet! upon by the princi pal speakers, rather than that a lengthy nc\\ report shou ld he sent gi\'ing in detail the \\ hole record of the meeting. This rep o rt is douhtless interesting to ocal First-aiders, but it Illllst be borne in mind that \\ e :llC cate ring for the Ambulance and Fire Brigade world at largc.

OF lTBSCIUPTION.

For I2 months, IS. 6e1., post free, to be sent to the Publishers, Dale, R e\"llOlds and Co., 46, Cannon-strcet, London, E. C. .-lddrcss-" TIC't'lI!y/ollr, l.olldon .·· TeltpllOlIl! NO.-'i-l77 Ball!.'.

Brevities.

an "_ \.m bulance .Cha ser,·) and his aim is to work up damage cases agamst [inTIS and corporations. Since the rec e nt frightful tunnel disaster in K ew Y ork these men been unusually active and bold. They ha,-e even tried to force their way into thc hospitals to the bedsides of the injur ed and dying men, in order to secure r etainers in prospected damag e suits This is a ncw phase of medicolegal practice. \\Te are credibly informed that this sort of thing is not confined in Am e rica to the city of ?\ c w \'ork alone.

1(- * *

I N ::1l1 \. merican paper appears a long article eulogising a motor strcct-ambulance, in which the authoritie haye recently inyested. It seems that on the -cry clay in whi ch it mad e its first public appearance it \\" as put to practical use, con'i'eying a man with tw o fractured leg and a brok en rib to the hospita l. But the humour of thc story lies in the fact that the ambulance itself was respon ible fo'r the accident as, owing to bacl dri\'ing, it ran into its \-ictim. The picture of the ambulance pro\I'ling about the streets and seeking whom it may devour is not uninteresting. Ir e may here r emark that n othing of a similar kind to this exists in London For this we are grateful.

* 1(*

3,1 of the Aet.

No person can recover under more than one Coupon ticket in respect of th e same risk.

P \ RTS has late ly be e n tes ting a novel apparatus for rendering first aid. In design the contril'ance is suggesti ,·e of a pillar le tter-box, containing a small m ed icine chest and a foldi ng st retcher. Po scssion of th cse lat ter is obtained by breaking a glass panel, in the same way as the glass of a fire a lar m post is broken wh en a fire-engi n e is ca ll ed. In addition to t h c k ey o f the casc, accc, s is ga in ed to a telc phone inside co mmuni cati ng with the ambulance s ta tion in th e immediate neighbourhood N othing of a s imil ar kind exis ts in L o nd o n although, o f course, the occasiona l boxlik e s tructur es, s h e lt eri ng the a mbulan ce of the St. J ohn Ambulance Association, remotely r esemble th em.

* -x,x-

AccoRDlNc to the Tran sa tlan tic publication, a n e w typ e o f lawyer h as sprang up in New \.' ark. H e is called

S.\YS our esteemeJ contempora ry the Da/(l' Cllro///de: The proposal to establish a horse ambulance sen'ice for the metropoli is not les interesting because it i be et with many e lements of uncertainty. There are ambulan.:c e xperts, for in tancc, who doubt whether a wcll-organised hand-carriag e sen·ice would not be found more e'i:pecliliuus than one relying solely upon hor-es fur its locomotion at least, so far as Central London i conccrncd. One ad\'an tage of the hand-propelled 3mbulance th3t it C3n ill\'ariab ly thread its way through a block of vehicular traffic. If th e director. of the first-aid mO\'ement haJ been asked si months 3go to specify the best body for undertaking it, they \\'ouIJ ha\'e nam ed the police. But it bppens, fo r some archaic r easo n, that our police stations hayc n ot ) ct heard of the tel e phones! \\' e beg to eli rrer wi th our contemporary; we do not think the director of the First \ iJ movement woulJ have saiJ anything of the sort. Th e police have al ready quite enough to do. London II'a nts a thoroug hl y tr ained and efficient ambulance en·ice The Lond o n policeman is a littl e too fonJ of the four-wheeled cab.

If any diffi ulty is experienced in obtaining copies of FIR T AlJ) at your n c \\'sagents, ple3s e communi with the publishers, 1)3I c, Reynold and Co., 46, Cannon-street , E.C.

Life Saving in the London Streets.

THE-" ar;:ic e: on thi - _ubject b __ jr Burdett reprinted in the . ue of this TOCR_ --\L from he Dal{l _1.[ail. hould be read b,- all in the work as i' shows how one, who has" apparenLly ;1'-en a good deal of tim.e to 'he subject. can '0 mislead h;mse:f. and at -arne me, milead' other- into he belief tha the -ystem of -tree amwith which he is connecte':' is' fairly complete," and has been renderino- :: e:fficient -en-iCe for ten year. ,.

\\-e are quite: willing to admit that :-- ir Henry Burdett i- aenuine and bc:lie\-es all he _aY3, bu pcrhap- he will be: surprised to hear that some of his fierUTes are .hig_hly inco:rect. and as his are ba-ed on hl- h;;;ure-, It follow- a matter course. that if hi- fi::,rures are wrong, his c(Jnc;uion- mu'lt be: wrong aI-a.

:-iir Hem,' sav- that :: the number of accident- remo,-ed to hospital; reported by the police in London La-t Vear i' about 6,000. and of the e up\ ard of 2,400 ·'ere b,- the -tred am butance .-'

Two fac -" are giyen here: and fortunately the figures of one at least are capable of Yerification or CJtherwise. 'ir Henr\- coe- not -a,- whether" la t '-ear" i1 99 or 1900. it cann'ot be 1901. because the poLice report for that year j- not yet out. \Ye will put in a abular form the total number of accidents reported by the police. and tho'e remfJn:d bv them durinrJ those two \-ear-. and the ,ase-, of illness in the streeL, a - from the police report ;-

T Jta _-no - J. 1 Ca"t= e,f iI:ncss T L2.1 f to t) accide accider. ts. H H Jspita.. <1.:l6. trnb

IS99 9,68-!- ,.870 -!- I -+ I3."68.

1900 9.Z- 2 ,.-!-63 -+,161 13.-+[3.

I will be -een from these figure:> that :'ir Henry is entirely wrong. and not only in the fisure- he mi leading also: ina-much he. uppre--es a material fact. yi2 the number of cases of illm: - removed to the ho:>pital (mu -!-,ooo in each year). If we add these to the number of accidents removed to the ho:>pitaL ,ye (Jet about 12,000 ca_es a year, and about 1. "00 or 2.0)0 which were n0t remo..,-ed to h0pital, but, perhaps, remm-ed home or proceeded home al0ne: and it may be safdy aid that all these required tranportin'J in a proper ambulance and in an efficien manner. It ma..,- be remarked here that this :oystem 0f treet ambulance: pro\-ide' a litter and material, not a trained first-aider. so that there i not the slightest guarantee that the patie'nt \yill ha\'e any real fir-taid treatment.

The second fact: as gi'-en by Sir Henry Burdett, i that 2 -!-00 of the accident ca 'es (reported by the police) were remo,-ed by the sueet-ambulances. This is of not so much importance the first one but by his own showing it is open to doubt. On analy ing the number. we find that 25 0 " were dealt with at the Fire Brigade station, 83-+ dt he Hospital stations." so whether these are included in the accident:· reported by the police we do know, but, on the face of it: it would seem that they are not, and if so, we get.a total only of 1.320 removal: which may po::; ibly be aCCident - reponed by the police and removed in the street ambulances. \re put it to our readers whether a remoyal ?f 1,3;0 :)f 2 -+00 ca es out of a total of over 13 000 IS an effiCient ambulance sen'ice?))

In add!tion to .the above figures which only apply to the ::'Iietropohtan PolIce, there are accidents that occur in the City proper, and, we be1ie'-e on food authority, that there are about 2.000 a year, so that the total number of street av:id(;nts and illness\..:s is OY(;r 15. 000

Du this number of 5,000 It I,. <. (Ie"; not b\ am- me,:m reDrc:,:;"n- whole of ,he ca_e") for which a hor'e:' or motor" ambulance would be require. The accident..; that occur in buildin;- ·'-urkhop-,. ek r ou,number e that occur in the s:reer.;;. and : eeje ,-ould need the as -i tance of an amt-u:ance

The only other poin- in Henry Burdei::';; artic:e ithat of the ne:ce i("\.- of rs.:: or ambulance:: in London. He 0,-e' :0 1 main obi en! he fir t of which i' the: ':stribUi:ion of Aer Luncon enourfh: but in our opinion. th:- one good red-Jn -,\-h': hor'e or motor amb lances are reqUIred in L ndJn. It mu t be obyiou: to anyone that the remm-.ll of a p..:con -uffering from accidcn- -or il on a h,:md litter a distanCE: of mrt:e or fo r ml_es is much more like:\' to increa:e the injury or the illne than being n:yed in a hor-e ambulance e,-en if we av nothin of the can umed in the former method. a "mo- t important: factor v-hen -killed medical a -i.::tance j- required.

To quo e Dr. Yach,e:'s words: .: the diffcrence be:ween a -tretcher and a hor -e or motor ambuLtnce in tv rapidity of :ran_port and prompt medica aid i- -0 as to be beyond di-cus-ion." The other rea..:on- gi'-en by ir Henry are reall,- not worth discu -sin!!.

The" que - ion of pro\iding an ambulance "er,-iCe for London which include the tr£,n-,poning of probabh- '0,000 or ca'e- a year i· it larrre one. and 'the of a con-"idera:'"lle 3um of money. and can only be undertaken by some public bod). The efforts of a -mall priYatt concern like the Ho-pitals _\.:3':;0ciation, though well meant and a sli;ht imprm-emenr on the police method. cannot heip but be a failure. and what is more important, sen-e to block the "ay for prm-idin b a real ambulance servi.ce. _-\.nd moreo'-er We are '-erY much afraid that. by mean of the annual replJr: - which a-r(; is-ued and the -peeche- that are made: in -uppon of them in which material facts -uch as we ha,-e abo,-e) are not: \\-e beJieye. by intention, but from want of knowledge, the public are led to believe that more is beins done in ambulancing London than IS really rhe ca-e. and thi - in <1 great mea-ure account for the apathy on (he ubject Lh:u ha hitherto e:x.i-ted in our official cirelt::'.

Let u- hope that our County Council will 'oon come: to an end of their deliberations and u:-, tneir plan of

St. Andre\v's Ambulance Association.

GL.\ -GOW.-This corp - made a little dep:nture, which there can be no doubt will be ,yidely appreciated. They haw added a priv.lte invalid carriage to their equipment. Hitherto inyalids' able and willing to pay for. pecial con\'e\'ance haye had to u 'e the ordinary ambulance ,·an. The carriage is pecially con for the rem(Jml of im-alids, and is a gift to the corps. Its chief fearurt.: is that in outward appearance it resembles a pri\ate brou.;ham. a design specially adapted for the use of pri,-ate patient-. Internally it i· fitted \\-ith an air bed placed on a -pring mattrbs attached to a frame, which permit::, of it being drawn out at the back of the. vehicle and used for the conof the patient. In other respect. the brougham is also admirably adapted for its purpose, being equipped in a compact and con\'enient manner with the appliancL·· necessary for the comfort of a:l inyalid The brou;ham, which has an elegant appearance. i also fitted with special sprinus and tyres, and is in eyery re'pect a yaluable acquisition to the equipment of the a .'ociation

_Iarch

19C12. -FIR:::T

Our Portrait Gallery.

H,,:--;-. -RI;E( RH,r -,lLD T. R( L\ ::'ILR., \.-c.

.:3T- JOH- " C_n,: _ --R': - • )[\-1'10.-, :'lETRoPoLIT_l_· -.J.-\. B.

THE sentleman ,,-ho-e por mit appear' his in uur

"FIR_T _\.JD" PortTJ.i- Gallery IS wc::l known 10 _\n;'ia.

Born in thc:ve:ar 6;. Dr. R stane' hi- educa-ion ,t lhe Gr,lmmar' o. Holt. ::.,- :- - Ik. suhSt uentlv proceed' n; to C-t[1}u:-id.!e 1..- ni"er-itY fini..;hin cr - himedjcalcurriculam at Gu:-'s

On Guy's he :ised a: Lowe :':0[-, in \\ hich he s )on many ImporrJ.nt appointments among:;t which we ma\- ment:on; :ur-!eon to [he L "-e'Stof Doroui!h Police Order of Foresters . the ::'IbnR ,.I. '. jt; l}z' - II' d. che"';:eT and .:\ l tin ham

Orders of OddFellow:, Benefit Icit:r:e;; and orhc:r s D:, Ro?er;; threw him h-:an:'y into the promulgatIon at ambulance work and fur ten year:; he lecture con inuoush- to the B n u,.:-h and C )Un:\- Police to the employes or' he Great Ll "' [Lrn Rail\\-a\'. - and the Ly ,he Tl wn an 1. ou'nn- Committee-

In 1900, he ubject of our remm'ed 0 London and again once more thre\\- him<;e::- heartil,' into the ambulance mo,'ement: and :,ince hi - :e.:;idence in the metropdi,; '1e has c' nducted classes at the ,\lderham In.,t·tutt.:. ....t. Pancra.,; the olleae for \\- Irkin'" \\-omen, ;uare: the Dirkbeck I;stitute, .\:c. 19 01 he wa3 app inred an Honorary -:;urgeon (f rhe J lhn's Gate .:\ ur-in.::- Di,·i"ion. i" which capacity he i· a. -llciatecl with une of the pionet.:r- of ambulance \H rk. ::'IIr. Tame' Cantlie.

I n connection with Dr. Roben- ambulance -work on the Great Ea-tern Railway, the foIlowincY (\'-0 anec dote-, which are told by tl-)c -doctor. go far pro\'e the \'alut: of the which he in common with other medical men 0 the man.

"On one occasion afrLr he had giyen his fir-t cour.;e of lecture::; to the G. E. R. men two of the mem ber-; Were informed rh.tt J. corpse had just been reC(lYt:red from the h::nbour al;c\ remo"ed to tl'e mortuary The at once pre ccu.led thither and Ikr 'e_

\. I D.-

vered a, ::lriiieiJ. e- ira ·on. \\-:lh re":':.i: ,hJ.t .he oo i?po,.ed corp::e .;ub-ec,uen y ,hc)\\ed or li-e "n ul'lma'e y reeoH.reo_ The ne,: da\" 'he nun who h. : pulie au;: ;:he in .i,i.u.ll to rew.nd .t,W,l\ gin:'l 1'0;- iht: 0,- a { f. (:'I. he W.l:-- -ilformed -ha no reward co I be 6 \ he nun \\ J. i/O! de,ld."

lm ,nother occasion, the _uard 01- a [;-. in r nnin .:\ r:"ich. :'.lW : - he W;'b entering Thorpe J.:ion. e, .;me run m-('r a man ,m' ;:hen ium 'ine. He :u onCe ,ligh:ed I-rom hi.; bre.lk-,-.m. -.,nj' 'h t t1:e man un er .he engine blee.:in.-o r'r III .1 termo:-.l: ar.en- he a,- dO\\l1. 'en!!,h nd c' mpres"ed ,he the e w, -; i,-:e bacon '-0 the E!_e ,'1d run dear: -he ,hen at -it'd LOUTni uet • ne: Si: ,ped ;:he ra:-morrha.:e_ On furthe examination. di:: Yerin!:; ha- the m,m 11, d ,-r'-tCl re of the 'hi;:--h, broke up • rd he: truC -s and appliL'd the neCe:: ar·: .; :,11 '. The m,) liyed until 'he ('[IS. L'c,:;:h- oouccumbinrr to shock." - - ;::-

Thi -. s he docl)[. prm es crmc:u';'-eh' the i 11por ance f knowi 19 where ;:0 apply prc;;;'ure In arteria. bleeding: bu' I-or the romp- action Oi- ,his gt::lrd lhe m::m wou'd have undo btedh- oouccumbed '0 hi- i 1iwiein a ,-en- shan time a -ter -he ac idenand una:3suming in m.1I.ner. l1r. Rober:s has wi hal a firm determin:u'on when conductin-! e::her ,n e:xamin.ltion or a compei ion He rl'ali::e<; i:he :-u'1. ;:he y, lue of -he \\'or-". -h:ch he espouSl' 51 warm y and the ,upil who appe,!. l dare him in eir:.L r , mu:;- ':1:io3('- him that hi::. or her knowie .ge is f rhel[ ch, r.1C er \"hich ::hal prOYe a benL'llt and n a "')urce of dan,;er 0 the pub ie. b. Eaoo;: ia and on t. e Great Easlern Rai \r,1\" "·,:I..m Dr. is desen-edly pOpU:J.L He lvns i1, :"y Y!le a 1(! ioo alway:,; willin _ to gi"e his ,;me :> :heir 3en-icc and i"[runion Our r,lih\"a, men who know hm a_ld a 'remedical men of -his cia-s will ioin in aUf \,:,,:. ,hat he may Ion,; haye heal _ a'ld ;:; me' to pursue b:s kindly abours.

lHunicipal Ambulance \\' ork.

'YE:,T RRO"\\WICH.-The \\-a;:ch ommit-ee \...f West Bromwich Town Council. in their report i,,:ucd Ja.nuary 30th. 'tate: thar haye decided to take l.J Ver the ambulance yan from the ::,r. Tohn _-1.mbu .mce _-'\ssociation and work it under the powers conrained in the '\-es[ Bromwich orporation _\.ct 1900. The managLment and responsibility for the proper working of the \ ,In "ill be placed in the hands of the chief eifcLr d the tIre brigade Cap ain Taler. ,\"ho ,\'ill be paid £:- : er 11num for the e'\ ra ,,·ork. It is not cxpected that ,-an \\ ill throw any ;;reat c:x:1 en:e upon the Corporation a: the c ;;t will be in a g:reat mea:ure met b,- fees char.!ed for he remoyal of of accident and sicknt':':;.

Police Ambulance.

EASTROl-R:--;-E.-:' la;or Teal repor: that :- 7 111 embtr,:; of the: Eastbourne Police are holder' of thc ccnificate of the Sf. Tohn _ \m bu lance _ \ <; -ocration: J:: hold the 1'ion and twO the certificate of Life and 3b h,we learned

St. John Ambulance Association.

BI:--IIOP Al'c KL\)lu. - The members of thi branch of the St. John l '..mbulan ce classes foregathered at the refreshment rooms of Mrs. Bishop •'..u ckland, for the twofold purpose of sampling an excellent dinner, and making presentations of certificates, &c. In the unavoidable absence of Supt. Daley, the chair was taken by 11r. John Thirkell. Tbe e"ent of the evening was the presentation of _ a "aluable medical work C?f Bagdalin to Dr. Rogers, the mstructor of the class. Tbls ceremony was performed on behalf of the members by 1r. J. T. Proud, coroner for the Darlington Ward. A second presentation was that of a gold ring, suitably inscribed, to J os W_ Renwicks, han. sec

BL.\CKPooL.-The male members of the St. John Ambulance class, on March 5th, presented their lecturer, Dr. Eason, with a beautiful silver-mounted ebony walkingstick. The gift was in recognition of the valuable sen-ices which the doctor had rendered; and as much pleasure was evinced by the recipient as by the givers, who were represented by J\Ir. E. H. 1Iorris and P. C. Smith.

LEY.-The annual general meeting of the mem bel'S of tbe Yorktown and Cam berley branch of the St. John i\.mbulance , \ ssociation was 11eld at the Yorktown Sch'ools on l\Iarch -tth, :c,Ir. A. H. Claypole presiding.

The following appointments were made :-President, Colonel BawdI er; yice-presidents, Mrs. Trench, 1\1rs. ,'totherd, Sir George Couper, General. \nd erson, Colonel [)awes and :\J r. Claypole ; and chairman of committee, the Re,·. E. C. Kirwan.

The balance-sheet showed that the branch started with a balance in hand of £ 2I 5s- 6d., but owing to depreciations in local Sll bscriptions and in class fees, there was at the end of the year only a balance in hand of £20 2S. The report pointed out that forty members attended the 1ectures, 23 sat [or the examination, and twenty-one passed.

.\. vote of thanks to 1\1r. Harwood, the secretary, and to :\[r. Claypolc for presiding, closed the meeting.

DUKDEE. Through the energy and kindness of Fisher, Manager of the City Tramways, three large classes have been organised and are now being conducted by Drs. Gray, Gorrie and Thornton, under the auspices of the Dundee centre. The 120 pupils are all employes of tbe City Tramways'

EO:_I:\GTON. well attended meeting of this centre of the St. Tohn Ambulance Association ,,,as held in the In stitute, on Monday night, 1\1arch lotb, when the Rector, the Rev. H. T. Morgan, M.A., presided, and was supported by 1k G. H. ,Yest Jones, 1edical Officer, NIr. J. Jervis, ?vIr. Dickenson, Mr. Sargesson,Mr. Sewell, Mr. R. Dumbleton, the hon. sec., and others

Dr. West Jones reported his inquiries respecting the formation of an ambulance division. He suggested that it was a for the members themselves to take up, and eyentually lt was agreed, on his plOposition, to ask the secretaries in the various districts to call their members together to discuss the matter and to report to a further meeting.

The Secretary submitted the draft report sent from the headquarters in London.

March, 1902.

Il'SWI CH.-Th e classes h e ld under a grant from the Town Council, will shortly be examined by Dr. Brooks. of Felixstowe, and Mr. Ranson, of Needham. The women's class is a Sillall one, many who their names bei.ng unable to attend. The men's nursin£T class is a very lar ge and enthus iast ic one, and should turn out many efficients into the fast-filling ranks of ambulance workers. The Odd Fellows' class is still going on, but at present there haw been only five classes this year as against six last year. e,y subscriptions and donations come in, and it is hoped to be clear enough to start the beginning of our headquarters before the end or this Coronation year.

LLAi\SAl\fLET. The members Gf this branch had a knife and fork tea at the National Schools on Thursday, Janu ary 2ISt, at which Dr. Lewis Jon es, honourary Jecturer, was presented with a neatly-framed portrait group of himself and the mem bers of the class.

SOUTH SHlELJ)S. On Janu ary 28lh the annual meeting of the Sou1l1 Shields cenlre was held in the N[arine Schools. The president, Mr. James Readhead, occupying the chair. The report for the year was of a most encouraging character. The Borough Police had formed a ] )ivision of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and it was desired to press forward the formation of such divisions in f::tctories and other works in the town.

LEEK. - On ::'IIarch 3rd, at the Nicholson Institute, Dr. Hammersley presented the medals anu certificates to the successful students and Ir. John Stretch, and on behalf of the members, presented nr. J:\lexandcr with a standard lamp bp.aring the inscription, "Presented to Dr. David Alexander by the Students of the Leek Branch of the St. John Ambulance. '..ssociation. "

RADSTOCK. - The Somerset County Council haying rnade a technical education grant for the purpose, a course of First Aid lectures, under the auspices of the St. John Ambulance Association, was commenced J1ere last Monday Evening, R. G. Yorger, Esq., 11.R. .S., &c., being the lecturer, supported by a committee comprising the rector, Re\,. T. J. c. Gardner, J os Bird, Esq., C. c., Mr. Kateley, station master, G.W.R., Geo. SLreet, signalman, S. and D.R. Mr. \'lfr ed Dando, Westfield, signalman, S. and n.R., being the honorary and particularly energetic secretary. Twenty-five of the 42 entrants turned up at the first class. It is hoped the remainder will qualify for examination by making the next four attendances

SELSTO_ .-In connection with the Selston elassess, comprising a qumber of workmen employed by Oakes and Co. and the Butterley Co., a tea was partaken of in the National Schools on Saturday, February 1St. i '..b out 200 set down. Afterwards an entertainment was given 1r. Laveriek, collie r y manager, presided.

WIG.\N.-Under the auspices of the Wigan and Distr ic t Mining and Technical School there was a very large gathering on Saturday, January I9th, at the J">owe ll Boys' Reading Room, to hear a lecture by 1k Benson, and afterwards to form a class for men.

It is gratifying to see how the :c,;fining and Technical Schools are fostering ambulance work. Statistics prove how a knowledge of first a id in such large collieries as those of the Babington Coal Company, &c., lias red uc ed mining fatalities, and we can on ly hope that colliery owncrs and managers will give every encouragement.

iVla rcll, J902. FIRST

St. John Ambulance Brigade. CORPS.

The \.nnu al Bohemian Concert of this Corps took place at the H olborn Town H all, March 12rh, there was a great gathering of the mem bers of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. (N o Di strict Metropolitan Corps) to enjoy an excellent entainment provided by the Committee.

The Concert was honoured by the Right Hon. the Earl of Sandwich as Chairman. The artistes ,\-ho contributed included Miss Laura Trotman, soprano; Miss Hettie Hills, contralto; 1\1r. Bennett Griffin tenor' and 1\1r. Frank Richardson, bass; each and all' of renown, who well sustained their good reputation.

-

Then there were Mr. ,Vill Cornish, the cleYer mani pulator of sih'er hand-bells; :\1r. Geo. Renn, an excellent character comedian; Mr. Ernest Cherry, with realistic impersonations of some of I )ickens's popular characters; and l\fr. Freel Rome and Harry Briden, humourists. ilI1'. Mark Attwood, did good service as pianoforte accompanist, and Mr. Harry Briden, as musical director.

The Deputy-Commissioner (Inspector-General Belgrave Ninnis, M.n., R. T.), Colonel Holbeaeh, Major Ual e t, :\[ajor Fox (London Salvage Corps), Brigade Chief Supt. Church Brasier, Chief Supt.Morgan, .\.sst. Commissioner Mackenzie, and other prominent members of the movement, supported the noble chairman.

Snu; \TILUI. - On January 13th, 19°2, a di"ision of the St. John ./ \. mbulance Brigade was formed in this district. The Wandsworth Borough Council has kindly granted the use of the old Yes try Offices, Shrubbery-road, as head quarters, ",bere a t,Yo-wheeled litter, stretchers, hanesacs, &c., \\"ill be kept ready for usc, where the names and addresses of the members of the division will be posted.

WE bear that a class of six lectures is being organised at St. John's Gate, Clerkenwcll, E.C., for cyclist. Tbis is to enable them to get the "} irst Aid Certificate." Tbe class will not be a large one, and the fee is most moderate. Further particulars can be obtained from the officer in charge, cyclists' cliyisiol1, St. Jobn's Gate, Clerkenwell E.C. '

Lady Superintendenl Ch,:rch Brasier attended at the Central l<'insbury Radical Club, on W ednesday, [ieb ruary 5 th , and presentcd Ambulance Certificates to members \\'bo hal"e recently gone through a course of first aid instruction. Councillor Garrity occupied the chair, and a l::trge audience was present. During the e'-enina, Mrs. Church Brasier was presented with a handsome in recognition of her self sacrificing sen'ices in connection with in :,'orkmen 's clubs, and 1\1r. Caunter was presented \\'Ith a Silver match box. 130th recipients suitably acknowledged gifts . I t is intcresting to note that both articles were sole handiwork of memoers of the club.

TI<; I(:N\lOVTH. G. II. Johnson, "'bo conductc:d lhe ambulance classes at this town in connection \\"ith the 1)evon County Council, has been presented by the students that at tended the classes with a carriage clock

PROVIt\CIAL CORPS.

-ACClHX(;T?x. - We regret to learn that PriYate II. C. F letcher of, thIS corps has fallen a victim to the deadly scourge of feyer. Much sympathy (s felt fo; hiS relat.l\-eS 1:1S "'.. special se n -ice at the eet }Japtlst Chapel, where the deceased used to \\'o rshlp, was held 011 Sunday, :\Iarch 2nd, and was by a large number of th e corps under Chief SuperIntendent Ogden.

9n Saturd?-y, Ist, a potato pie supper was held connectIOn Wlth thts corps, and was followed by a smoklllg concert.

qn Saturday, Yebruary 8th, the curps, under Chief Supenntendent Ogden, had a march out. The weather was not propitious, as a blinding snowstorm was raaina Th - b b' e dIstance cm'ered was about SC,Tn mil es, and, in spite of ,,".eather, march was enjoyed by all ranks.

ChIef Ogden has presented to the G and H Compal1les of the 3rd B atall ion 2nd East Lancas hire Regiment Volunt ee rs a framed photograph of those of memb e rs who haye been out to the front.

The ,\"e e kly drills of the Birmingham Corp:, under th.e Sergeant C. MiJhyall, of the Blrmlllgham RIfle Bngad e, are well attended. There were 50yfthe 150 members in attendance on :c,Ionday 6th. HItherto ll1fantry squad and eompaany drill has been the order, but the corps will no\\' commence on stretcher drill. Head-quarters are at Queen's College, Paradise-street.

BLACK POOl The Tursing Sisters here haye arrain had thei r annual distribution of clothing to the poor ot the town_ Year by year the distribution has assumed Jaraer proportions and it h as now come to be recoanised as b a function which is worth more th an passing in the local press. Would that our columns permitted us to do e9 ual justice to the work that is carried out by the kindy s Isters under Lady Supenntendent Orllle, of Claremont Park, Blackpool. It is self-sacrificing labour SLlch as theirs that has made the name of St. ) ohn an honoured one in the of the people; nOl: mllst "-c forget a mede of pratse to our stalwart friend Chief Constable Derham and the kind hearted police who sen'c under him. Blackpool has many points that endear it to the pleasure seeking Briton, but there is one point that al\\"a)"s strikes \-isitors and that is its up-to-date ambulance methods, its kindly courteous Chief Constable and his equally courtl.!ous and kindly men.

Would that visitors from London could pay a Y1Slt there in the "off season," wben they might hal"e the pril"ilege of seeing "the Chief" and his "merry men,'J for they are merry, or shall I say happy, on thi night, engaged in duties more congenial to their kindly naturcs than the a,-erage police duty, the) are all fIr!:it aid men, c1l1d relieving suffering appeals more to the softer side of our human nature. To :\{rs. Orm e and her nursing sisters, these stalwart members of the force are helpful and tactful assi tants, enabling them to detect the would be imposter from the genuine. London, which i also proud of its nursing sisters, at head quarters, joins hands ,,·ith Blackpool in a record of work which we hop e to see e xtended to other town'. It is "our Sist e rs' Crusade" tu brighten some\\"bat the li\-e of the little ones around us.

some months a "ery useful work has been goi ng on in the Brighouse district, in the esLl.b

-FIRST

lishment and tramJl1g of a men's ambulance ,,'hich is now in flourishing condition. On Fnday l1lght, March 7th, a representative meeting,. c.alled by Hirst (the Mayore3s), was held at B.U11dmgs, ,vl:en it was decided to form a nursmg dIvISIOn In connectIOn with the brigade Dr. Bond, Dr. Edwards, 1\1rs. R Sugden, the Mayoress, and 1\1essrs. O. E. Burto.n and J. Caldwell, spoke in snpport, and many names of ll1tendll1g mem hers were received

CHESTER - On :March 7th Mrs. II. Horatio Lloyd presented the medals and prizes awarded to the members of the Cheshire Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The Rev .• \. E. Farrer presided.

The prizes ha\'ing been presented, Dr. J ephcott asked Lloyd ao present to the Rev .A. E. Farrer a fountain pen as a mark of the esteem in which he was held by the member'i of the brigade, and in recognition of his valuable services as superintendent. 1\1rs. Lloyd made the presentation amid loud applause. The reverend gentleman simply re turned thanks. _\. hearty vote of thanks was afterwards accorded Mrs. Lloyd for presenting the prizes.

CHlCHESTER.-.\t the Concert Hall, Chichester, on Tuesday cYening, March ..j.th, an entertainment was given in aid of the funds of the Chichester Division of the St. John \mbulanc e Brigade. Owing to the unpropitious wea ther and other causes, there was a disappointingly small attendance, but the few ",ho brayed the weather were re\yarded with a capital programme

CITY OF BRISTOL COlUS. -O ll 8th this corps held a ping-pong tournament and cafe chantant. The proceeds were to be de\'oted towards extinguishing the debt on the equipment fund. The hall \,-as crowded, and the entries to the tournament were numerous. In the cafe chantant the musical items were much appreciated. .i\.t the conclusion, Lady Ashman kindly presented the prizes to thc successful players, and a cordial Yote of thanks was proposed by the Dr. J. S. Griffiths, and seconded by Dr. Charles Hayman, one of the hon. surgeons.

The corps, under the command of Acting Commissioner Griffiths, musterell strongly on the occasion of the \'isit of their I\Iajesties' to lay the foundation stone of the new L\.\'onmouth Docks, sixty to seyenty men being on duty in the streets, and thirty at Avonmouth. As the crowd was assem bling, what for the moment looked like a serious disaster was, happily, averted by one of the am bulance men. .\. powerful horse, attached to a heavy lorry, ran away in Cannon's Marsh towards St. Augustine 's Parade, and it was stopped among the crowd by one of the brigade courageously running forward and securing it. In all, some thirty to forty cases were treated by thc corps.

COL::\'E.-Ambuiance ,york in Colne is forging ahead, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Dickey and Mr. \\T. Wilkinson. IVe learn that the division was formed in 1890, but it commenced in a small way, and up to the year 1892, had no fixed premises With the usual go-a-head character of our Northern friends, they started a bazaar and as a result realised about £300 and with this as a nucleus, a one story building was taken and converted into Head Quarters capable o[ accommodating tbe members and an ambulance wagon which was also purchased.

The Corporation are now about to build a new fire station and it is hoped that accommodation may also be

AI D - }'farch, 1902

found under the same roof for the ambulance division and that the Corporation may also house the ambulance wagon as they do the fire engine

meeting of the members of the St. John Am bulanee class, was held in the Wesleyan schoolroom, on Friday evening, March 7th, when it was decided to form a division. Dr. McCarthy kindly eonscnted to become Hon . Surgeon.

HEYWOOD.- 1.. Tea and social party was on Saturday evening, March 1st, held in the assembly-room, at the Hopwood Liberal Club, undcr the auspices of the Heywood Ambulance Division. There were about 80 members ant.! friends present. During the evening, there wa a presentation to Mr. S Fenton, the late Secretary. The present took the form of a writing cabinet and bore the following inscription on a brass plate:"Presented to 1\1r. S. Fenton by the members o[ the Heywood Division, S.J.B., as a token of esteem. Ma.rch 1st, J902 "

HULL COlus.-The secont.! annual ball in connection with the aboye Corps took place at the Cl:ntral HalL The event was one in \\ hich great social interest had been taken . Tickets for the hall almost unprocurable, so great had been the demand [or them . This marked success was due to Mrs. La\'erack, the lady superintendent of the Central T ursing ])i\ ision. The hall was splendidly decorated. The stcwards \\'ere Chief Superintendent Hopper, Colond Wellste rl, J. P., 1 >r. Scott, Dr. Holdcr, J.P. :01r. Hare, ':'11'. E .• \.. Krause, and 1\1r. Stephenson.

The no\'elty in connection with the e\ent was that the ball was preceded by a reception by thc J\Iayoress plrs. Gelder), supported by the Sheriff and C(Jckerline. great many members of tIle Corporation and local magnates and others were present. Our correspondent says "that from the point of vicw of dress the ball was one of the prettiest we have had in Hull this season."

KINGSTElNTON. - 1\1essrs. Hextcr, IIumpllcrson, and Co., manufacturers at Kingsteignton, have generously o[fered to purchase a complete case of arnbulance appliances to be fixed in their works, where a large number of hands are employed. It will be under the control of the Kingsteign ton Section of the Newton Abbot Division of the St. John Am bulance Brigade, &.nd will, no dou l,t, proye a valuable acquisition to all concerned.

LEEDS - In the annual report of the Leeds Corps or the St. J ohn Brigadc, Chief Superintendent George Armitage poinLs out that the four new divisions, practically only in course of formation a year ago, have since been in full swing; two more di"isiCJl1s ha\'e been formed during the year,. and there is every prospect of further extension. The breaking of new ground has led to an increase of expenditure, ancl on the year, with a total expenditure of £451, there is a deficit or ;(,62.

LEICESTE:R . - THE annual competition for the challenge shield took place on Thursday evening at the Old Town Hall. Deputy-Inspector General ill.

Coates, M D., R.N., judged the competing teams . i \ fter a comprehensive practical examination, 1 )r.

Coates made the following awards: ], the Wheatshea[ Division, No I team, 277 marks, holders o[ the shield for the ensuing twelve months 2, Wigston Divi-

-

March, 1902. FIR S T sion, 268; 3, L. and N IV Division, 266; 4, Wbeatsheaf NO.2 team, 244 5, L. and N. I V. 2nd team, ISS In addition to holding the shield the winning team each receive a silver medallion, the second team receiving a bronze medallion. Maximum number of marks obtainable, 37 2 LIVERPOOL. Strenuous efforts arc being made in this city to form an ambulance corps, and we trust that these efforts will ?e successful. A great deal of correspondence has passed 111 tbe local press, and we gather from a letter from Mr. Ellison, the local secretary, of the S.J.A.A that over a 11,000 men and women have gained certificates since the establishment of the local centre, surely there ought, therefore, to be no difficulty to get members Leeds, Manchester, Bradford, and other large orthern towns, ambulance corps, surely, therefore, Liverpool whIch accordmg to one correspondent, is the first port of the world, should not be behind in so important a matter as this.

lViANcHEsTER.-The Royal Army Medical Corps (Volunteers) and the ::\/[anchester and Salford Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade were on duty on \\ Tedne_day, I\Iarch 12th, on the occasion of the visit of the Prince and .Princess of IVales. Dressing stations were formed the line. of route, and four horse ambulances belongll1g to the pollce department were also held in readiness at the Gouldon street ambulance station to turn out if required.

The following promotions are announced: Mr. A H. to be officer and lIon 'ec. Corporals Brunt, 1\1annl11g, ?\10rnson, and Passman, to be Sergeants, and prtvates Ross, Holiday, Beswick, Renwick, Powell, Dyke, Ugden ant.! Martin, to be Corporals.

The drill season commenced last month, when there was a good t!ie men being put through company and stretcher dnll by Sergeant-Instructor Con man. A number of new members also joined the division All the members (except the last recruits) no\'\' wear the regulation uniform.

MILL B:\Y (P1Yl110uth).-Superintendent Ilott of this dlnslOn, actIng in conjunction with the chicf constable ll?ade the necessary ambulance arrangements on the S10n of th e recent Royal yisit. ./\.11. ambulance with four men was at each of the following places: J orth-road Stat1On, vcnue, near Derry'S Clock, George-street.

NORTIL\\II'To::\'.-The annual dinner of the Earls's Barton Korthampton Corps, of the John .\mbulance Bngade was held on Thursday night at the Board Schools, Earl's Barton. The chair was takeu by Superin 1'. F. Thorpe, who was supported by Chief SuperI11tenclent John Perry (Northampton), and other officers and gentlemen interested in the mo,·ement. .\.fter the loyal toasts had been duly given and honoured, the Chairman. proposed "The Sl. J olln Am bulance Brigade," and speCIally remarked on the work of the Northampton Corps. The Earl's Barton Division, he said was proud of belona. . , ° ll1g to the Northampton Corps. He belie\'ed it was first- in in the Brigade, and that it was also first in efficIency. Northampton Corps, which had a yery c;pable Superintend .nt in Chief Superintendent 1 erry, pnded Itself on kcepll1g up to date.

Thc toast was received with musical honours. Cbief Superintendent Perry, who responded, in the course of his remarks said: He was a member of the Drigadc in its

infancy, and of fact be was proud. The brigade vel)' nearly wcnt to pIeces once, and for seven years he struagled to get a consensus of opinion throughout the to lessen .the grIevances the provincial corps, and to bring the Bngade to somethmg lIke modern requirements.

Those efforts culminated in a conference held at a camp at. the result of that conference being the lI1:;;tltutlon of all. annual conference of the Brigade.

1 he first of those conferences was held at Northampton, and but for that conference there would have been no St. John Ambulance Brigade to-day, for the wbole was dIscontented, and every county was going on Its own, and would have continued to do so.

The Torthampton con Ference \yas carried to a sucul and the held by the provincial corps \vas .m the commIttees of those corps and not in a COmI11!ttce 111 London.

ago .K Corps was at the top of tree 111 organisatIOn, power, Il1 numbers, in training, H; transport serVice, and 111 every branch of am bulance work. 1 hey were proud to belong to a corps whieh had once saved the Bngade from absolute annihilation, and which was fully up-to-date to-day. a number .of cxcellent songs \\'ere sung, 1'. btche presldmg at the plano-forte.

- Trophies. In connection with the St. J obn A.I1: bulance • it has been arranged that compeht1Ons for trophIes shall take place at head at the men 's competition to be held on ApI'll qth, at 8 p.m., and that for ladies on the foUowin ()' day, a commencement being made at 4 o'clock. ...\n e/ trance fee of 6d . will be charged. The assistant Hor. Secs., 1iss Hieve, 7, Outram-road, and I\Iiss angster, 2, Palmerston -road, Southsea, will be glad to recei"e and to supply particulars of the competitions.

TmSHELFAXD BIRCHWOOD CORPs.-The •..J.ljretoll/olt7'Jlal says :-Most of us will remember the splendid sen-ices done by some of the members of the .\mbulance Rri aade at the Diamond Jubilee. At the coming Coronation O the services of trained men will again be needed in London and it will be ?\1r. II-ardell's duty to select a numb er of trained men from tbis district. He therefore urges the mem bers to continue their drills so that any of them may be able to proceed to London should they be required to do so in connection with the Coronation festiyi ties. I\ 0 moyement has brought thc l \lfreton district into greater prominence than that of the t. John ..:\mbulance Brigade. For many years 1\1r. Wardell, of Doe Hill House, has worked unceasingly to make the men employed at the Tibshelf and Birch\\'Ood Collieries efficient to render firstaid to the injured. Some years ago he had the honour of appearing before her late Majesty Queen I, Tictoria with his men to give an exhibition of their skill.

Volunteer Ambulance School of Instruction.

President: l\[ajor Andrew l\[aclure, \'.D., late L.S.R.\·. Office: 33, Cambridge Street, Hyde Park, W. ORDER: :'I [onday, March 24th, at 8 p.m.-Leclure by SurgeonCaptain E. Callender, M.D "On the Casses and Treatment of Insensibility " Monday, ]\[arcb ::qth at 9 p.m.-Stretcher drill.

(By Order ) P. B. GILES, F.R.C.S., Brig-ade Surgeon Lt.-Col., Senior ;\Iedical Officer.

FIRST AID

THE letter of :\11. l'E);CER on "First Ambulance \i d for Primary Hc.emorrhage" to the Teachin g. Lallcet, and published in last month's issue of that journal, deserves the most earnest attention at the hands of all teachers of "First aid," and of all those who write text-books on the subject, or books that are reckoned as such.

It seems that :'ilr. " PE);CER has come across a small numuer of cases in which the first aid treatmpnt for primary hcemorrhagl: was not applied in a proper manner. \\ 'e are not told whether the cases were treated by certified ambulance pupils or not, the presumption is they were, and upon these cases :'Ilr. ,'PE);CER formulates a charge against tl-re present ambulance The actual \Yords of the charge are these: "Those attending ambulance classes have not learned the necessity of applying pressure directly to the \vollnd.'· In the cases abo\'e mentioned tourniquets were applied in cases of heemorrhage that were not \-ery severe, wi th the result that yenous bleeding was increased.

'\-e have consulted most of the text-books on First Aid, and find that they all gi,-e direct pressure 0n the wound or bleeding point as the first measure to be adopted, in addition, of course, to the recumbent position and elevation of thc limb, The fault then (if there be one) does not lie there,

It is, of course, impos ihle for us to say what each individual lecturer tells his class, but as far as we can ascertain every lecturer uses a text-book, and we can hardly belie\'e that a medical man would go out of his way to teach what he himself knows to be o:,viously wrong lY e note that :\1r. SPE);CER does not attempt to bring forward an)' evidence to show that any lecturer has been guilty of this \Hung teaching. That these mistakes in rendering first aid have occured must be admitted, but is there any explanation possible \yithout branding the whole teaching of the ambulance classes as "rong? In the first place, these cases may only have been treated by noyices, or persons who are not certi6cated in ambulance ,,'ork. In the second case, it is possible that the case treated was the first case of bleeding seen by the first-aider, and at the sight of the first gush of blood he thought a main artery had been severed, and consequently applied a tourniquet. Thirdly, it is quite possible for an ambulance pupil, although certi6cated, not to have got a thorough grasp of the subject; and there may be a few of this kind who haYe slipped through the examination (hence the necessity of holding yearly examinations) .\nd lastly, it is possible,

A I D.-- ?\Tarch, 1902, although we think not probable, that some teachers may have been a little lax in pressing that particular point upon their pupils, In giying these probable causes of tIle improper treatment of the cases seen by :\Ir.·PE);CER we, perhaps, admit more than what we are justified in doing: but still, \ye do not believe that a certi6cated first-aid pupil" must ah,'ays apply some sort of improvised tourniquet to the limb above the blepding point j" nor can we see that ;.\Ir. SPEXCER has brought forward sufficient evidence to justify such a statement.

The second poi nt in Mr. ,PF:);CF:R'S letter is, to our mind, the more important, and one upon \vhich he is well quali6ed to gi,,-e an opinion-that is, whether it is necessary for first-aiders to use the tourniquet under any circumstances \\-hateyer. He says: « I desire to point out that instruction in 6rst aid for primary heemorrhage which docs not put direct pressure upon the wound provided as the one and only method, to be kept up until medical help comes, fails in its object.·' This is undoubtedly a debatable question, and affects in a great mea ure an important branch of ambulance teaching. and is one that ought to be discussed c tlmly and dispassionately by surgeons and ambulance surgeons , Is there a possibility of the surgeons of the St. John Ambulance Brigade arranging such a conference, and if possible, settling the matter for good) We hope there is,

Presentation of South African War Medals.

DEWSBC"RY. - The presentation of medals to the men of the Dewsbury Corps, St. ] ohn Ambulance Brigade, took place at the I ndustrial Hall, on Saturday, February 27th, .\ desire had been expressed by the: men that they should receive their medals at the hands of the Brigade Chief Superintendent, who has earned the affectionate regard of every member of that splendid force, sent out by the brigade fOT his kindly interest in them when they were up for mobilisation. Indeed, the wish has been generally expressed by many of the returned men all of the kingdom that in the eyent of l\1r. recelvlt1g no recognition from, King or country, the actn;e serv)ce should mark their appreciation of him by presentlt1g hlln with a testimonial. In the absence of the Brigade Chief Superintendent, the presentation was kindly undertaken by Mr. A E. Hutton, who, in making it, paid an eloquent tribute to the unselfish labour of the men while at the front.

The men were called up in turn, and after coming to 'to the salute, stood erect before :Mr. Hulton while the medal was pinned upon their tunics, and then 1\1r. Hutton shook hands with each and spoke a few words of congratulation.

A pathetic incident- one which brought tears to the eyes of many-was enacted when thl: widow of the late 'Orderly R. Grace, of Ossett, carried their two-year old son upon the platform tn receive his dead father's

March, 1902 -F IR ST

During the evening a capital programme of mUSIC was gone through, and the proceedings, which had been marked by the greatest possible enthusiasm, closed with a vote of thanks to the Mayor of Ossett for presiding, after which the :0T ational "\nthem was sung

During the evening Captain F, B. Walker, on behalf of the Dewsbury District Corps, presented to Superintendent 'ecretary C. Thomes a gold albert and gold medallion to mark the high appreciation in which his services were held hy his brother' officers and the members generally l\1r. Thomes replied w;th a brief and modest speech.

FAYERsHA.:\f.-The medals granted to two members of the Faversham Division of the t. John Am bulance Brigade were presented by Sir John Furley, at the annual dinner of the di \'ision, when a large and influential company supported the chairman (Hon, 'urgeon Alexander), the proceedings being most enthU3iastic

Referring to the calumnies on the British troops, Sir John said the calumnies circulated in some quarters concerning the British army W2re lies of the deepest dye. He had never known in any war conquered people to be treated with so much consideration and kindness as the Boers had been treated by the British Ton-:my, who often denied himself to bring some little comfort to those belonging to his country's enemies, ir John Furley sen-ed \\'ith the Red Cross throughout the Franco-German war, the war of the Commune, the Carlist war, and the Russo-Turkish war, as well as in South 11 frica,

GRE-\T E.-\"TER); R .\lL\\-AY CORP,.-rl plea ing and intere ting eyent took place on Wednesday e\'ening, January 22nd, in the handsomely decorated :\" orfolk room of the Great Eastern Company's Hotel, at Liyerpool-street Station. It was the distribution of the, t. John Ambulance

A ssociation certi ficates and medallions to the succe sful member of the Li,-erpool-sLreet, di,-ision of the Great Eastern Railway Ambulance Corp', coupled with the distri bution of war medals to some of the members of the Great Eastern A,mbulance orps \yho yolunteered to proceed to outh Africa to render first-aid at the front. The presentation was undertaken by :\lr. J. F. C. Gooday, who was supported by the principal members of the official staff. Prior to the presentation an eloquent peech was delivered by :'ilr. Gooday, in which he leferred in warm terms to the work of the corp', and in concluding referring to the 1\ational Raikays 'hallenge Shield said he was sure that every mem ber of the taff \yas as anxious as he was to See the shield come back again, and to that end he would be prepared this year to offer £10 to each of the men in the team who entered for the Inter-Railwar COI11pdition, instead of £5 a. last year, the result of which he hoped \yould be to see the G,E, men in the front.

KEIGHLEY --On Tuesday e \'ening, February 25th, the medals issued by the \r ar Office, to members of the Keighley Corps of the St. John :\mbulance Brigade for service in South Africa were pre ented by the :'Ilayoress. The occasion was a note\\-orthy one, aad a large number of townspeople, probably about ..J.50, assembled in the Mechanics' Hall to pay respect to the recipient: of the medals. The corps has contributed seyen men to the ambulance forces in South \ frica

TER.-The members of the Leicester Corp' of t he John :-\mbulan ce Brigade, who haye sen-eu in South

A I D, 73

Hrica presented \rith war meuals at the Temperance Hall LeIcester, when there was a laro-e and enthusiastic audience The :\1ayor (.\lderman E, \\-ood) preSided, and was supported by Colonel Elliston, Y.]). X 0, 3 who made the presentatlOn, 1. H. \\'oolston. ir Thomas and Lady 1,\'right, Canon and :\lrs 'aunders, :\1rs, \\ mdler, Dr. and :'IIrs. Douglas, :\Ir. \. \\' raire, :\1r. Col 'on, Dr. Pope (chief-surgeon), D. .\. E. -\udland (\ -ellingborough). Brook, Chief . upermtendent Hllwn (\\ elhngborough), Chief Superintendent King, Superintendent- 'ecretary F. H. Turner Superintendent of tores J. G, :\lobb.

:'i1 bTROPOUV,.);" CORP:-.,-The Metropolitan ,Corps mustered in full force on aturday, Jan. lIth, 1902, 111 the playground attached to the Hugh :\hddleton , chools Clerkenwell, the object being the of wa; medals to the men who had been to the front b\ the Chief Cornmis 'ioner of the Brigade, Col. C. \\-. Bowdler. There were the platform, among - t others, Lord Knutsford, Director of the .-\mbulan c e Department of the Order: Inspector General Belgrave ':\inni" R.:\"" Deputy Commissioner :\"0. Di trict: Brigade Chief uperintendent \r. J. Church-Brasier, F 1). As istant C0111111i sioner

:\"0, Di trict: Chief Surgeon O - born Edmund Owen, Esq., F.R.C.,.: the Re\'. T. \\-, Wood, :\L\.: Chief uperintendent :'Ilorgan, and many medical ambulance and nursing officers of the corp ' Col. Bowdler, in presenting th e medals, spoke in warm terms of the work which had be e n done by the men in outh •\frica. They were \'olunteers in the highest sense of the term, and wlunteered for very d'sagreeable and e'l:tremely important work, They gaye the best idea of the noble side of the English character, and from score: of medical officers they had received the assurance that they were the rno"t willing horses in outh _-lfrica, and, he need not say, had to work accordingl)

Yi count Knutsford they had been largely helped by yolunteers from all parts of the Empire. and by the organising work of Red Cro committees at home. Both the late director-general of the Royal _"-rm)' :\Iedical Corps and the prest-nt holder of that office had e'l:pressed themelves in tcrm. of the highest commendation of the manner in which John's men had performed their duty ,

TlB:--HELF A);"D BIRCH\\-oOD CORP::-.- \n intere. ting ceremony took place at the Tibshelf 'oilier)' on :\Iarch 1St. The occa ion wa the annual upper of the member of the Tibshelf Corps which was attended by up\yards of 200. During the e,'ening the medal gained by the members of the corp- for actiYe en-ice in _Urica were pre ented amidst great enthu ia m by :\lajor IE. ,eelcy :\I.P. for the Isle of \\'ight.

men, who were dressed in khaki, then recei\'ed their medals, being warmly congratulated by :\Iajor ,,-ho aftenmrds made a most il1lpressi\'e addre s to the men on the yulue of the ,,'ork they were engaged in, and paid a warm compliment to the men who had sen'cd in 'outh .Hrica.

Deputy-Commis ioner \\-ardell, . who occypi,ed the chai r. and is Iy popular lJl the dr trlct, al-o addressed the men. _\ programme of well-rendered-ongs, &c., was gi\'en during the evening,

WJ<:U );GBOR01..-l; H. - The medals of the \\" cllingborough l11en who sen-cd in South. frica II'ere pn: 'ented by

--FIRST

the Marquis of ortbampton, on February I4th, before a large and distinguished gathering. "

Referring to the ,,,ar, th e noble MarquIs said t?at never in the history of the world bad any war been carned on with such humanity, •\.s a peace-loving man, .he ,,:as prouder of his coun.try than had ever been, for, s)?Jte of anything that mIght be Said by those who were )eal<.)Us of us· we could hold our heads h1gher for ha\,ll1g shown' an e:\.amp1c to the world that when a Christian nation. was called to war it could carry it out as far as possible in a Cbristi:l11 way.

'I\ToRKsoP.-The Right Hon. Sir Frcderick Milner, Bart., M.P" "isited Worksop for the purpose of presenting war medals to the members of the Worksop Di"ision of the Sl. J Ohl1 Ambulance Brigade who had returned from active. service 111 South Africa. The ceremony took place 111 the Town IIall, which had been specially decorated for the with mottoes and national emblems, and the proceedll1gs wert witnessed uya large gathering of the general public. The d1"ision, forty strong, paraded at 7.30 under Superintendent Dr. Montague, and headed by the bugle band, marched to the Town Hall, where the member for the di\'ision was ,yelcomed uy a fanfare. Supporting him ,,"ere ])r. and •\J ontague, Dr. and :;\Irs, Cra,yford, J\fr. and Mrs. :'Iann, Mr. F. W . Phillips, and Superintendent JIum1yn, of the Welbeck Di,-ision.

.i\fter a brief introduction by Dr. 1iontague, Sir. Y Milner presentcd the medals, congratulating and shaking lunds ,,-ith each of the recipients. Of those who went out one has remained in South Africa, and is doing well, :111d one bas joined Baden PO\yell's police. Their medals ,ycre receiyed by representati,'es.

.[\. demonstrtion in stretcher drill and bandaging ha"ing been giYen, Sir Frederick Milner addressed the company. :'>.fter expressing the great pleasure it gave him to attend and present the medals to those who went out so oranJy to render assistance to the sick and \\"Ounded, he assured them that be was proud of them, as he was sure ,,-ere all their fellow citizens. The present unhappy war had giyen the members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade a chance of shO\ying of wh at really good stuff they were mad e The brigade had furnished during the war oyer 2,000 men, 62 of wh om, he was grieved to sa)" bad laid down their lives for their count ry in their efforts to succour the sick and wounded. Eight members had been mentioned in despatches, and one bad recei, ed a medal for distinguished conduct in the field. In conclusion, the hon , member h eartily congratulated Dr. Montague and the members of the division on their smartness and efficicnc)" and Dr. Montague replied.

Subscquently a dinner to the division and friends took place at the Golden Ball. ] k Montague presided, and Sir Frederick was the chid gucst, supported by the leading townspeople.

RlEPOlnS,- :'Ilan)' reports haye been recei\ 'cd from British and Colonial Fire Brigades and Ambulance Corps. It has been founel ImpOSSIble to deal ,\-ith them in extenso in this issue, but it is hoped .to refer to them later. \Ve lllay mention those of specJal1l1terest are reports from \\'indsor and Fire Brigades, Colne, Leeds, and Brisbane .\mbul;Il.1Ce Corps. we ask our correspondents to send us short, p1thy reports, gl\' mg prominence to important mattcrs rather ,tl.la11 lengthy reports from local papers? The process ?f "bOll111g do\\ n " orten entails the excision of matter that it IS espeCIally desired by the se nder Sllould be inserted

Railway Ambulance.

CO_\'L\'ILLE.-It has been decided Lo form ambulance classs in. Coalville identified with the Midland Railway

.\. CO)JCERT was given, February 19th, at the Freemasons' Tavern, by the staff of the London, and South Coast Railway Lord Cottesloe preSIded, and among those present were ?dr 'IVilliam Forbes (General Manager of the Company), Sir .Philip Rose, Mr. J. T. Firbank, M.P., }\IIr. C. Steel (Great NorLhern Railway), Mr. A. C. Ellis, Mr. H. Holmes (London and South·Weste rn Railway), IVIr l\[organ, 11r. Lindley, 1\1r. Drury (Great Eastern Railway), :'Ir. Allen, and others. The programme, which was arranged by Ilel:hert 'cha:tau, "'as a very extensi,-e one, and was reccIycd \\"Ith enthUSIasm by an audience numbering over 800. Among the which we think were specially deserving of notice we 111lght mention the violin solos of M. Tavador Nachez, J\Ir. John Warren's Yentri]oquial sketch and the very c1eyer mimetic imitations of Mr. Syd Lochlyne. This gentleman's performance is unique and his various imitations caused roars of laughter. In the course of th e proceedings, Lord Collesloe presented medallions to a large number of men ,,,ho h ad qualified for th e St. John Ambulance Association, and to scveral who had been out at the front. He said that they were very pleas ed to see there so man y of their Reservists. They bad sent out 259 men, of whom 15 had returned. In all 69 St. John Ambulance certificates and badges were presented, and four 'IVar ribbons. Somc 90 Res e rvists who had returned from the \\'ar were present. The cos t to the Company ,,'as £ 5000 a year, or .£ 1,000 in all, and Lord Cottesloe declared tbat neither I )irectors nor SbarellOlders grudged baving to pay the money.

GRE.\.T E,\STERN R \ILw.\Y.-Tbe annual competition in connection with this railway commcnces at Stratford on Friday, March :2 JSt. The judges are Brigade Cbief Superintendent Church Brasier and IIon. Surgeon Roberts. The winners of tIle challenge cup will represent the company in t1le competitIOn for the national shield_ Review.

E1'I1'O;\J1£ OF FmST Aw TO NUESll'G, b)' Dr. Hinsley \\'a lker.

IT is difficult to realise the raisolZ d'atre of thc book. whi ch is little more than an exaggerated syllabus of lectures in First Aiel and Nursing.

The author, in his prcface, states his object is to aid thc memory, but surely this may be far better done by thc student making his own ab tract or underlining the salicnt points in his instruction book.

The yery incolllplete classification and the J11Zlny incorrect or doubtful quitc take a'\'a)' any small yalue thc book might possess, for example :The whole range of fractures is summed up in se, en teen lines and under blecdilJg \I 'C find:

"In all cases of bleeding, when possible, apply pressure on thc bleeding part. "

" n Epeftaxis placc patient in horiwntal position."

The definition of a fracture is "Brenk in length of a bone:' Cunpo\\'cler is recommended for the rabid dog.

The questions and the table of infectious disea ses may be found useful, but ,\ bat relation to first aiel or nurs ing ca n there be in the reproduction of three statucs, of which one is ":\1)' punishmcnt is greater than 1 can bear."

\t\'e regret \\ 'C canOL re co mmcnd thisvery slight and elementary compression of First Aid and nursing into 23 pages for One shilling .

Our Portrait Gallery.

-FIRST

A I D75

C\PT. A. CROL:CH, Late OFFICER, BOROUGH FIRE DRIG \IJIi':, \\ 'ORT HI::\G.

TIm gentleman whose portrait it is our pleasure to present in the fire columns of the first number of our j oumal, is well known in fire brigade circles, and it is no idle statement to say that he is one of the most popular "Fire Chiefs" in this country.

Born and ed:..tcated in London. Capt. Crouch was present at the great fire in Tooley-street, where the late Mr. Braidwood was killed. From his youth upwards, it

a p pea r s he took a keen and ardent interest in the service, and was well known to the members of the old station In Florence St., at the back of the Islington Vestry Hall. In later years he had the privilege 0 f servll1g on the Staff at the Tournament in Lonnon, Hastings, Belgium, &:c., &c., und e r Sir Eyre Shaw

and Capt].in Symonds.

He is a most active member of the National Fire Brigades Union, of which he IS a life member, and he bas held respectively, the posltlOns of Hon. Secretary and Chairman of the South Coast District, added to which he has shown a keen interest in the various instructive outings and gatherings of the Union, inasmuch as he has been present at the follOWIng Congresses: London, Lyons, Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp, and Paris

During the period in w11ich Capt. Crouch has been the head of the brigade of the town of his adoption, it has won the following trophies: Duke of Marlborough's Cup 1893. First for Life Saving ( ation(1), I90o. Second for Life Saving (International), 1900, and patronage of H.RH ] )uke of York.

Capt. Crouch is a 11011orar), member of the French and Belgian Fire Services, and also possesses the Diploma. of Honour given uy the Life Saving Society of }'rance, but the distinction on which he naturally sets the highest store is that awarded him by the Royal Society for l)rotection of Life from Fire.

We append the following notiIkation which is taken from a daily conLemporary :-

"Sih'Cr medal, to .\Ifrecl Crouch, captain of the Worthing Fire Brigade, for his gallant rescue of a lady ancl gentleman from the Royal 'ea. House Hotel there on May 2..j. On the fire being discovered, all the inmates except two escaped_ Crouch then entered the building from tIle escape ladder, but found lie could not sa, e tbe lau)' by this means, and at once decided to try the stairs

The was eventually destroyed, being well alIght,. It was With the difficulty that he gained street WIth hiS burden. i\.gall1 entenng the building Crouch managed to save the man by the escape lad de r. he been a few minutes later both must have pen<:hed."

This a record of which Capt. Crouch 111a1' well be proud, and may we say that his comrades in the fire sen ice are also proud, to know that of their number has earned this high distinction. In the heat and excitement of bustle, a man_ does a bold and courageous act which obtams for hm1 that coveted distinction the Victoria Cross, but acts such as these for which' 1Ir. Crouch received his award are not done in hot blood they require a cool and resourc efu l determination in to ensure success, and without detracting from the valour of those "'ho earn thc cross on the battlefield, we say that an act such as that perform ed by Capt. Crour:h appeals more d1rectly to our common humanity. It is one ot thos e acts of bravery which is the common heritage of brave men of all nations and appeals to us as such. Locally, Capt. Crouch has not been an idle man in Municipal matters. He sen-ed for two years in the Corporation, he has been for some years an overseer of the poor, and has served on most of the Committees connected with the Regatta, boating, and other sports clubs.

Gemal and thoroughly large hearted, .\'lfred Crouch has friends in many countries ill which it has been his fortun e to trayel; and at those International uatherinrrs h 0 0' \\' le h d?ne so mu c,h to foster the friendship of all natlOnalltles, It IS recogl1lsed that he s one of those whose keen desire is that this feeling shall be fostered anu encouraged, in order that as nations learn to know each other better by the means of these peaceful displays, tbey ,,,ill learn to appreciate hO\\" much they haye in common, and realising this will create friendships \\-h ich can but be of benefit to each and eyery co uutry.

In conclusion, it may be mention ed that Capt. Crouch is a member of the St. John .\.mbulancc Association, the National }'ire Brigades Union L\.mbulance and possesses the Long Service Medal of the Union with three clasps.

::\£\\' haye receind an ad\-ance copy of the Ambulallce J. l£axa :::ilZe, the official organ of tbe ambulance employes of the Caledonian Raih, ay. \\' e heartilr \Ie:come our little contemporary and congratulate those \\ ho are responsible for its birth fo r the attracti"e and intere ting way in \\ -hi ch it is compiled. That it may ba"e a long and useful career is our sincere ,,·ish. \Ve note it will be published quarterly and supplied gratis to members of the Ambulance Brigade on the Caledonian Raihlay.

OLDlllJRy, - Tl1e annual report in connection with the Old bury Fire and .c\mbulance Brigade, issued by Captain Shipton, states that during tbe past year the number of calls to fires was 12, compared with six during the preceding year . One of the fires was outside the Old bury district. The most serious outbreaks ,yere those at Bracl es' brickworks, Dennett's \Yorks, and the 'I\'agon and Horse Inn, Lug-lane. Attention is drawn to the need for telephonic communication with the outlying districts if proper protection is to be afforded for the whol e of the inhabitants within the area covered by the District Council. The ambulance section dealt \\-ith 53 cases, against 71 last year. Reference is als made to the fact that in the Beech-lanes district about 70 additional houses are being erected, and prm-i ion for the safety of these will soon become necessary. The necessity for call-boxe' in mrious parts of the district is emphasised.

National Fire Brigades Union.

THE "\X-:\1.:.iL CD1P, 19 02

:\T the ".\Iceting of the ".\Iargate Town Council held on Tuesday. ".\Iarch 11th, J902, the following letter \\'as read: -

The ational Fire Brigades' C nion, Headquarters Trinity Chambers, Cuildforo, 8th )[arch, [902

Dear Sir.- The Cnion \lould be pleased to recei\'e an im itation to \'isit )largate, and if you send it in at once it \I'ill be in time for next Council in London. Please let me ba\'e copr of tracing- from ordnance map. sholl'ing situation of proposed ground. Our men would certamly like a ca.mp, but. of course, if this cannot bc arranged the other thmg must be done. :'IIan), of our officers would take apartment and bring their Il'i\ cs and families for a summer holida\'. If im'itation is accepted a special committee Il'ill come clC)\yn to "iell' ground and go into the qucstion of arrangements and finance \\'ith your committee.

Yours faithfully, HOR,\CE S. FOLKER, Capt. \\·elb, Fire Brigade. :'IIargate.

..\lderman immons mo\'ed that the letter be referred to the "'atch Committee to deal \\'ith.

The "'\layor said he \yould rather it be dealt with at ti-at Council: as they wanted an official im·itation.

Councillor .\Iacfarlane mm'ed, and Councillor Hermitage seconded, that an im'itation be sent for the Fire Brigade 1Jnion to attend at ".\largate this year. This was ;,econded.

The ".\Iayor said they wanted a piece of ground about the size of Capt. Hatfeild's ground, and he was sure, if he was approached in a proper way, he would grant the use of his ground again.

\\-WOW':>, .\Xli BEXE\'OLr_Xl Ft.:xli.-The Hon. General .' ecretary begs to acknowledge wi th thanks the sum of £4 2S. 6d. amount collected at a special P.S \. Sen'ice held at Folkestone on Sunday, February 9,

.\ series of articles on "The History and l)Cyelopment of ".\Ianual and 'team Fire Engines," by ::-1r. c. T. Crowden, will be commenced in our next issue,

OLlJH.DL "\t the conclusion of an inquest held at Oldham on ".\Iarch 8th, the coroner, referring to the terrible mortality amongst children owing to unprotected grates, said that this was the usual story of a child being left alone in the house without any suitable protection from the fire. He was glad to say that there was a prospect Yery soon of our being with a la," which \\'ould make negligence of thiS sort a offence. In the meantime c()roners were expressing opinions on every case that came before them, which was the only thing they could do to influence public opinion. lIe pointed out that a good fire guard could be bought for about 3s., so that nobody could have excuse for neglecting this simple precaution,

London

".\larch, I902. Private Fire Brigade Association.

THE third annual tournament urganised by the abo\'e took place at the horeditch Public Bath'i on February 22nd before a crowded and enthusiastic audience.

The programme opened with a march past, in whicll the various brigades took part. This was followcd by a very pretty display by the ".\Ierryweather Fire Brigade.

F01t7'-llfen Hydrallt ({lid l.adder.-Prizes £'2 and £ J, Eight entries. 1st, Stapley and Smith, sec.: '2nd, RailI\'ay Clearing House, 49-3 sec.: yd, Rohertson Lamp.j6-4 sec.:

Thrcf!-JIm Halld PUIIlp--Prizes: Challenge Cup and £2

2S.: 2nd. £1 IS. Se\'en entries. 1St, Railway Clearing House: 2nd. Debenham: yd, Stapley and Sm tb.

0llc-JfoJl Hvdrant. Prizes: Challenge _Cup, badge aIld 30s.: 2nd, I jS.: IOs.6d.. Thenty-four entries. 1St, Packham, RC.H.: Perry, D. and F.: 3rd Bromley, H..C.H.

Tlzrf!c-JIclI Hydrant (/nd Turn-out. I'rizes: £2 and £ r I s. Eight entries. J st, Rai !I"ay Clearing HOLlse: 2nd: J. and R. )Iorley; 3rd, Robertson Lamp.

77uo-JI{'ll Hydl'll71t.-Prizes: £1 jS. and ,s. Eiti ht entrie. 1st, J. and R. :'IIorle)': 2nd. Raihl-ay Clearing- HOllse: 3rd , Robertson Lamp. It has been decided to gi\'e an additional pnize to the Robertson Lamp.

Three-J/c12 .<.;ca!ill/r Ladder. --h'ize £ lOS. 1St. ]{aih, a\' Clearing House: l{obeltson Lamp: 3rcl, Stapley and Smith.

Tug-oj-lVilr-Clarnico team beat \\-hilbreacl in final. Ambulallce j}rill.-rst. )Iaples: and

The Challenge Cup for the best aggregate in the first five drills goes to the Raikay Clearing Houst:, the holders for the past year, \I'ho, in addition, take seven (Jut of the fourteen prizes offered. ThL; work done by the yariou:, teams sho\\-ed a great impw\'ement on pre\'ious years. But the rescue drill. ho\ye\,er, \\'as but a poor display, the majority of the competitors thre\\' the dummy down on reaching the ground. \\'hitbread's was the only man who treated the case seriousl). During the e\'ening a yery realistic fire scene was gi\'en.

The judges were Chief Officer Dyson (\\indsor Fire Brigade), Chief Officer (Ley ton and Leytonstone), and the tournament staff officers as follows: In command.

Chief Officer \Y. T- Church Brasier: second in commJ.nd: Superintendent \r. J. Rushforth: clerk of the course.

Chief Officer T. F. Britton: masters of the arena. Chil.J

Officer G. ".\loir, ",\11'. Y D. Bluett, and "'\fr. T. C. Thorpe. For the ambulance competitions ".\[1'. James Cantlie, ".\1.])"

YR.C.S. and Chief Superintendent :\lorgan, of the. t. John Brigade, acted in the same capacity. The ." Clarnico" brass band rendered selections during the evenll1g

CLERKEXWELL. The certificates gained by the pupils at the recent class in connection with the London Private Fire Brigades and the vari0us societies in connection with St. Jolm's Church, Clerkenw('ll, were presented in the Crypt, on \\'ednesday, ".\larch 5th, by the Rt. Hon. Yiscount Kuntsford, G.c.::-'I.G. .it the conclusion of the presentation his Lordship made a telling appeal to those who had just taken their certificates to keep up the knowledge, and this request was endorsed by the Rector (the Re\,. T. W. \Yood), who IJluided, .\ vote ot thanks was proposed to Lord Knutsford 011 the proposition of Chief Officer Brasier (SL lohn _\mbulance Fire Brigade), seconded by "'\lr. Churcbwarden ".\.Iilward and carried by acclarnation.

".\Iarch, 1902.

·FIRST Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

"'\1r. Hicks opened an inquest at Lam beth upon. the nctlms of the fire at Yalentine and drapers, of 339, 34I, and 345 \Yandsworth-road.

1 he three. fatal were: Emma "·hite, 24. cook: ElIzabeth Blck\\'ell, 25, housemaid; and Dayrell \\ ll1.gham I9, The coroner adjourned the which he complimented the five firemen, tatlOn. upenntendent Coates, Firemen E. T. "'\loore J- J- .\!oore, and \r. H, Flack (all of Brixton), and -:\ile (of Kent-road) for their bravery. and added that he was that all fin.: men had been recommended in brwade orders.

At a meeting of the principal officers of the fire briuade on 5th, presided O\'er by Captain Wells, the firemen were commended for their bravery in at great perso?al risk. the live::, of six of the 1l1mate::, of the premises 111 "·andsworth-road, which \vere by fire recently: tation ::\laster Frank Coates

Firemen F. Xile, E. J. :\loore, J. J. ::-loore, and C. Flack: They arc all attached tt? the 13rixton 'tation, a:1d ,yere the first members of the bngade to arrive on the horsed cscape from .depot. In their eviden e the men stated that the bUlldll1g was hopele..:sly invoh'ed when they arrived upon the scene.

The C?!o/Je, of "'\Iarch. 5th. says: appears likely that the committee now consldenng the Il1troduction of horse may recommend them to be installed at the statlOns,. where they can be .. rung up" when required. It l.S a plan, there are sad possibilities of conabout It. Imagll1e the feelings of the owner of a burnmg house who rang for the fire-enaine and only aot the ambulance, or the emotions of a a broken leg \\'ho at beheld the fire-engine . \yeep round the corner to h IS aId \nth fifty yards of hose

The ann.ual of Captain Wells, Chief Officer of ".\Ietropohtan Fue Brigade: shows that during the past ) ear. there were. 3.68-1- fires Il1 London, of which 99 are as senou, and 3,585 as sligh t. This is apart from. chImney fires false alarms. The a ,'erage for the :? years IS to be r67 serious and 3,2-1- 0 slIght. .:\ ll1ety-se\'en lr\'es were lost and 297 were endange!,ed at fires. Of the deaths, 29 occurred before the brIgade was called, r 2 persons were found dead by the by the firemen, 4I wr;re cases of persons who v'ere taken out all\'e before the brigade ,was called, and I5 wen.: persons who, were taken out alr\'e after the firemen arrived. Of these ratal fires the causes of 3 I are returned as unknOl:'n, I.3 were by mi.neral oil lamps, 7 by clothes m contact \\'ltr light, 9 through children play1l1g WIth fire, 6 through chlldren playing with matches and 4 by sparks. from fire In 1900 the number of lost was 7-1-, and 111 the prevlOus year I I9.

Dr. ]. Lumsd.en Pro.bert, of Gloucester-place, Portthe, chIef medIcal officer of the ".\letropolitan } Ire .B[lgade, dIed on Friday, :\1arch 8th Captain Wells aturday, on behalf of the officers and men of the bngade, .forwarded a letter of condolence and sympathy to the relatIves of ])r, Probert

I.t is worthy of interest that the first fire-engine used in Amenca was sent from Erwland in -, t> ,)

Provincial Fire Brigades.

\ BERIJEEX.-A most successful" at h .:. '. orne Ill. con·

With -\berdeen Fne was held in the RecreatIOn Hall of the Central rire 'tat'o 1:" F b n, e ruar}' CounCIllor Lyon presided o\,er a The hall \\ as decorated on an extensi"e scale " presentll1(r a 'ery pretty scene. The gasoliers were adorned with holly,. and col.oured streamers were hung across the room of \'anous hues was tastefully arranged on the the tables, pot plants and flowers were laid out \\'ith effect. "ifter tea, a most enjoyable programme was su bmltted, and greatly appreciated b\' the audienc At conclusion of the conce;t the hall \yas\lea d and dancmg was engaged in, the music being suppliedreb;' :\,lr. The arrangements for the uatherin u ".er.e effiCiently carrI,ed out by an energetic commiftee, slstmg. of Deputy-hrema ·ter "-, H. Pollock, COlwener: ".\lr \\. Gerrard, Secretary; :\11'. .--\, ".\Iitchell, :\11'. J. Leil and ::\1r. A. BallantYl1e.

_-\:;TOX.:- annual report, issued of the .\Ianor of Fire Bngade Committee states that durinu the year the total num.ber of receiyed by the brigade \\as as With 65 last year. The total 10 s b\fire wlthll1 the dlstnct of _iston ".\Ianor was e:timated it ;[ r 632 and the value of the propert\' at risk £2IO? No fatal fires occurred.,. - J'

BOOTLE.-The annual inspection of the Bootle Fire .Bngade by the members of the committee go\'erning this lmportant ?f corporation "-ork took place em ::\larch. qth. upenntendent Roberts conducted the operatlOns of the firer-nen. which throughout were proby the committee to be of a most efficient and satisfactory character.

BOl,;RC\"E:\IOUTH.-_l general meetin of the briffade was held recently at the West Fire tatlOn for the of rules and the election of officers, partly neces itated b\· recent. changes and partly by a slightly altered Capta1l1 Lane occupied the chair, and there was a full the only ab en tee being on the ick list. e\'eral Important promotions \yere made.

with the half)early inspectIOn by the F He BrIgade Committee of the Cltv Council of the Cm'entry Fire Brigade, which was held recently at the some intere ting e"periments were carried 111 the .of the with a ne\\' appliance whIch the bngade IS acqumng, a moke helmet, which enables a firemen to work in an atmosphere which would othenyise be choking. Captain Thoma i. to be congratulated on the up-to-date character of the smart briaade under his command.

E.-\. 'TBOlJRxE.-'Gnder the auspices of the Eastbourne Yolun teer Brigade, a \'ery successful ball was held at the Town Hall, Eastbourne. the proceed being de,'oted to the sick benefit fund of the brigade. Captain Houn om officiated as ::\1. c., and the music \yaS provided by the town orchestral band .

FA YER HA:'Ir.-The annual dinner of the Fayersham Yolunteer Fire Brigade \\'a. held at the hip Hotel. on Thursday, :\Iarch 6th, when about 2 r at dOlm to an excellent repast sen'ed by "'\Ir. F. \. Lilley. '\1r. :\llun

-FIRS T

Tassell presided, and Mr. Guy Tassell, the hon. secretar y, was in the "ice-chair. The loyal and other toasts were duly honoured. Songs were rendered by :'Iessrs 1\1. Laxon Harris, Curling, H. Neame, i\ Tassell, H. S. Tett, and T. Minter !\Ir. Guy Tassell accompanying

FRODI::\TGHA)I. - The annual dinner was held on Friday, February 4th 1\[r. Dixon, chairman of the Fire Brigade Committee of the Urban Council, presided and Mr. Cooper, chairm an of the Urban Council, was also present. The cb ief theme of the speeches was the approaching reorganisation of the fir e brigade, and the p rovision of a more central station.

HARRoGATE. - On Thursday, March 5th, 1r. W. G Allen, Hon. Superintendent of the Harrogate Corporation Fire Brigade, entertained his men and a few friends to dinner at the North-Eastern Hotel, Harrogate. Mr. Allen presided, and the vice-chair was filled by Sergeant Sharman. A capital dinner was served and heartily en joy ed by those present. The cloth having been cleared, conviyiality and musical harmony prevailed for the remainder of the evening. Seve ral toasts were also submitted. lVlr. Telson Jackson, society Entertainer, who has appeared at the Spa concerts with distinguished success during the past two or three seasons, and who on the pres e nt occasion was the guest of the chairman, gave some choice items from his extensive repertoire, contributing to a large extent to the enjoyment of the evening Miss Daisy Allen who by her Mr. Bertie Allen, paid a bnef VISit dunng the and sang a cou pIe of pretty her and artistiC vocal efforts being enthusiastically apprecIatf'd. The chairman, Alderman Ward, and the members of th e brigade also contributed to the programme

ILFRACO:lfDE - There was a good attendance at the Town Hall, Ilfracombe, on 'iV ednesday evening March I I · ' J w 1en ong service m e dals were presented to members of the brigade. Mr. 'Yo Pile, lP. occupied the chair. CouncJllor Gaydon (chairman of the fire brigade committee) remarked that the members of the Ilfracomb e Fire Brigade had performed excellent serVIces, and well deserved the m e dals, which were given for long service and aood conduct. Captain J e well and Fireman Lewis hadbtwo bars each for twenty years' service, and Firemen Nicholls, 'iV. Jewell, and 'v. Duggleby ?ne each for fifteen years' se rvic e. A l1:edal was also to be g iv en to Fireman F MaKey for havmg served ten Men who would go through fire and water to save Me deserved all the credit due to them

Mrs. Pile having pinned the medals on the breast of ea_ch of the recipients amid applause, the Chairman complimented them upon receiying the medals. As an old fireman, he was glad to be present tbat evening and see so p;e;;ented The medals were given by the National hre Lngades Association.

movement is on foot to start a fire. here, sixteen of the citizens have expressed their Wlllmgness t? J0111. The arrangements are now almost completed, and ,,"111 come before a meeting of the council at an early date.

annual r epo rt on the work of the Fire Bngade, which has been is sued it is state? that there h ave been 587 during the' year. or lim; tutal 524 were Gres, of which 63 we re classed as

se rious and 46 0 were sli g ht , wb il e 64 w er e false or "Chimney)J a la rms Th e total loss by fnes was est im ated at £201,227, whilst the risk to the property endangered was £2,51.+,9 00

N J::WCASTLE - At a meeting o f the Fire Brigade Committee of N ewcast le Corporation, March 6th, an app li cat o n wa5 made by the Birtley lo cal autho rit y for the use of th e brigade in case of an outbreak of fire in that dist ri c t. It was decided, as th e distance was too far, not to accede to the applicat ion. - Supt. Evans inform ed th e cO ITlmittee th at be was an app li can t for the position of Superintendent of the Fire Brigade at Nottingham and, therefore, desired a credential to forward to the Nottingham authorities. The request was complied with

OXFORD.-The annual meeting of the Volunteer Fire B r igade was held at the fire station, George-street, on Monday, March 2nd. Mr. H. l Fisher, president was in the chair, and amongst those present were Aldermen D owning (ex-president), Buckel! and B acon, Messrs. W. S Carver R. H. l Bartlett (auditors), H. Molyneux (secretary), G. H. Annetts (treasurer), Superintendents Cross and Coul drey, and a large gathering of the brigade.

The usual routine business was gone throngl1, and showed the discipline of the brigade and its appliances to be in a most satisfactory condition. The treasurer's statement of accounts showed a balance of £ T 36 2S lod., as against £69 IS. 8d. on January 1St, I9 0 I.

Subsequently the annual supper of tlie brigade was held lJuring the evening the president l1anc1 ed to exFiremen Symonds a handsome clock, and a similar present is to be made to Sergeant-Instructor .r\. dams, as a token of esteem on the occasion of their marriages .

TOPSHAM -Mr. G. Hopewell, who has r esig ned the captaincy of the fire brigade, which he has beld gratuitious ly for over 22 years, li as been presented by Mr. H. Gould, on behalf of the members and friends of the brigade, with a silver-gilt snuff-box, together with an illuminated address

TROWBRIDGE.-The annual meeting of the Trowbridge and District Fire Brigade was held at the fire station on {arch 7th, those present including Captain 1(nowl,=s, Lieutenant Hornan, Rev H. Sanders (hon. treasurer), and Mr. G W. Rose (hon. secretary)

The treasurer's report showed the income for last year to be £93 2S. 9d., and the expenditure £9 I I IS. 4d leaving a balance in hand of £ 1 lIS. Sd , but there are some lleavy outstanding debts, and it is lloped a hearty reception will be given to the collection now being made for funds. The income rece iv ed from the Urban Council is not nearly s uffIcient to meet the demands upon the brigade, and, as Captain Knowles pointed out, some new lengths of hose a re n eeded to replace those wbich h ad burst. The officers were re-elected with th anks ·for past services, a nd it was decided that in futur e they should be el ected annually.

llfracombe was selected for L11e summer outing

'iVALTON - A very success fu l concert was g iv en in the Public Hall on Thur sday eve nin g, February 27th in aid of th e funds of the Fire Brigade's annual dinner and compe tition funds . Th e stage was tastefully adorned with plants, kindly l ent by Mr. E. Pettit, and the decoration was carri ed o ut by Captain Brind, assisted by Mesdames Peali, Brind, and l->hillips. A capital programme was placed before a crowded aud ience, whose fr equent ancl lie::!r !y ::!ppl::::use to the favour in which the a rti sts wcr e hdc1.

March, I902. -F IRST A I D.

Correspondence.

VI RS:r A ID FOR PRIMARY J-L-E i'.10RRIIAGE· 1 HE WRONG TE,\CII1NG GIVE TO CLASSES.

To tlze Editors of THE L.\NCET.

--:-1 read :VIr. VV. G. Spencer's letter on the wron ?-wcn to ambulance in Tlte Lancet of J an.

\I It_h SLll pllse. He seems to takc It [or granted that because a pelson has gon<=: through one course of lectures on ,- First Aid" and tleats a pa.l!ent wrongly, that the lecturer I1lLlSt be at fault because the said person scrys he was taught to do what hc did:

I am perfe ctly aware that a deal of harm is done by people who attend one course of le c tures and no more and, may be years when suddcnly calleel upon to stop h;:emorhage ancl ha\ Il1g only a ha zy recollection of what they ought to clo cia a or: somewhere or other, and cover their ;/ s,aYll1g, IS what I was taught to do." But when come to ': trall1ed body of men, such as thc St. John Ambuwho constantly rendcring first aid under ZllZ7lIedwie of an. honorary surgeon of the Ixi"aele, my experlencc IS totally different. I have never seen a case of primary that was not treated in the same way as T should hm'e done myself-\-iz. : ( 1) by clio-ital pressure 111 the wound; and (2) by a hard pad and (i f a\·ailable) O\ er the wound. If a member of the \Vorksho D·I'eret t I lk 1· " P 1\ ISIOll 0 le.a lanc erc lief on the side nearest the heart" (l!rect(J/ over a rupturcd varicose vein, [ should h111: to .go home, burn all hiS certificates and hand in his reslg natl on.- I am, Sirs, yours fai [hfull y, _ _ .A. J. HELl,! l\'IO::\TT,\CUE, IIonoJalY Surgeon Superintendent, \York sop Divi sion Jan. 6th, 1902. St, John Ambulance Brigade,

To lite Edilors of THE L\::\TCET. a lecturer on first aid for O\'er r6 years and an exall1ll1el fOl many years I ask YOLl to allow me to reply to a letter by Mr, .\V. G: Spencer in Tlte Lallcet of Jan. 4th, Spencer detalls a lIst of cases 1ll which improper first aid been the cause of ellsastrous results. Of course, good intentions be adduced as an excuse for ig-norance or ju s tify cloll1g hal m meanll1g well. But it is in his deductions

I take exception, as I consider they arc formed upon an baSIS. He states that because those who have been of ambulance classes havc in many instances made gnevous errorrs 111 first aiel treatment, thcrefore the instruction has_ wrong_ He says: "I would appear that instlllctlOn IS .gwen 111 sucb classes which is not informcd lw the actual requlrcments of practical surgery Those \I -ho -ha,'e suc h classes seem to have got the idea fixed in thcir that the y always apply some sort of an illlprOl-isccl tOLlll11quet to the_11mb abOl-e the bleeclll1 0 point whilst they havc not learn cd 111 these classes the of ap'plying pressurc directly to the wound. "

I. have allVay_s imprcssed upon my classes that the two most lInportanl thll1gs to remember in first aid to a casc of hwmorrhage arc position and pres s urc upon the bleedinopOint. I have cxamincd classes all o\'er East T(ent and [ unlv?rsally found that the same _teaching- has been adoptecl, It has been a Ycry rarc exccptlon to find a candidate applyll1_g tounl1Cjuet, e::ccpt as acljunct, when waS allella l and excessIve. I .w Ill not go further into details, but must from my experience that the teaching in first aid 111 connectIOn WI til the St. John Ambulance Association IS sound. a surgical point of \'iew and in no way descrycs the p ublJc stnc_Lures which J\[r. has directed against it. _ fhe practical of the questIOn raised is of gTeat impOI tance, as such chsastrous rcsults of first aid call for a rem.eely as as possible. This, I belie\'e, can only be aclllcved by cliscovermg the truc causc of thc jo-norance displayed, not by hasty I n opinion, the li es ll1.the short _ course of ll1struction - \ iz., fil -e ,,·eekly enthUSiastiC pupIls, rcading up their notes and bool", thiS IS surficlent to enable them at the end of the sixth

lVeek to pass_an examination with about 60 pcr cent f -k But soon takes place, and unless th 0 s. they soon become very uncertain and their Ideas as to what they should do in any IS a natural result. Thereforc the remecl a liS prolon_g of and thus s mOle. filmly fixmg the pnnclples of first aid on t pupils _I hal 'c had many opportunities of seeinu c\V 11ch sllffenng has been greatly reliel'cd and in tl ases 111 tstance life probably saved, by properly' applied first feel strongly that encouragement ought to j)e g .' t ,anc I _ n en 0 every !DIan ane evel y woman to acqUIre a knowled o-c of it rather tl " C Iscouragement. b < l"n b _ D 1efejcts and ignorance. ccrtainly are rightly and J-ustly lOug lt )efore the profeSSIOn but I 1:"1-1 to se fi D· ,I" e any JUSlication makll1g ruthless accusations against ambulance teachers Without any_ eVidence "hatever. I maintain that they h_a\ e no_t cleserved thiS censure, as they cannot be held res )oriSIble for the fault of others.-I am, Sirs, yours fa ithfully, I , EUW.\RIJ C. FE::\TOULHRT IIernc hay, Jan. 6th, 1902.

To tlte Editor of FIRST AID.

SlR,- [ \\-as very glad to hear that you had acquired FIR:T AID, and I am sure that under your supen'ision it will plo\eagreatsllccess. PETERS, Chlef Officer, SlttlIlgbourne Firc Brigade.

To tlte Fditor of FlRST AID.

SIR,- Fire Brigade Sen'ice and the Ambulance SerYICeS, to my mlIld, should. be much more closcly together an_d the step .you are takll1g m nlaking FIRST AID a periodical for both serVIces, should do much towards this encl_ Fire Bngade especially_ in the prOl-inces, should be bulance as lyell, and 111 case of a catastrophe, the II hole of the should be summoned as for an outbreak of fire. ThiS, course, means that el-ery Fire Brigademan be With firs I aid and ambulance work an allll1terested ll1 both sen·ices should stri\-e to attain. ' \\ lshmg you e\'ery sllccess,

Feb. 25th, T9 8'2 T. C. C. 0., \\ Tinclsor.

Re SOUTH AFRICAN ME:\IORIAL IN ST PAGUS CATHEDRAL.

To tlte Editor of FIRST AID to,the.tett.er in your February slgncd TII-o kaffirs, No. \ . DI\·lslon: "\Vhilst I cert::mly my sympathy to those ,,-ho desire that the memorial to thel.r 'chums' who haye fallen in South Africa should bc placed 111 a SUitable place, I should likc to say that I, as another man who has been at the front, \I -o uld prefer to knoll' that thc memOrial IS 111 St. Paul's Cathedral lI·hich I re o-ard as Cathedral in the City' of the Empil:e. Two kaffirs' must not forget that the memorials of somc of ou.r rr:ren are in the crypt or. St. P:llIl's, them bemg \\ elllIlgton, Nelson, and Surely It IS an honour that our men should ha\'e a memorial sicle by side with such honoured namcs as Lhese .-Yours truly, AKOTHER K.\FFIR. P.S.-I am glad to noti ce that" F. A " bas taken a nCIIlease of life and is likely to groll-, \I-e cannot do without it, and wben in S. A., wc usee! to fight for any cop)' that came to hancl.

J() tile Editor of FlRST Am. [n reference to a letter in your last issuc, on \lTong teacblllg to i\ mbulance Classes in Primary I-Ircmorrhage. I hope you will allo\\' me a small space in your I'aluable Journal for a few remarks.

r cannot understand wherc thc l\Tong teachin('- is taken from, as in the book, First Aid to the Injured by the St. John Ambulance the teaching: is plainly gil-cn 111 case of hn.:: morrhage. l Irstly: to apply dire c t )Jressure to

80 - FIRST

the wound by a pad firmly tied on with a that means fai l pressure s houl d be applied to the POlnt nearest to the wo un d. If arterial the wou n d and the hearl, if venous pressure should be applied, the slcle of the wound farthest from the heart.

I have passed three courses in the St. John Am hul a nce, a nd the lecturer has always impresseG on the classes, the treatment above described. Should any that go throu g h Aml?ulance C asses act con trary to the instructions gi Vel? th em,. I .fall t.o see the lecturer can be blamed fo r wrong as It IS eVident the persons in fault cannot pay pro p er attentIOn to th a t whi ch they are being taught, a nd I adVise th em to make a care ful examina t ion in First AId to the Injured. 111 order to avoid any further mistake a nd not et the pubJtc th1l1k Ambu lance Lecturers are givi ng wrong teachlng.-I a m, SIrs, yours obediently \ V C. PACKH.ur, Feb. 15th, 32, Parkside-street, S.\\'.

To lite Edilor of FIR, T AID DEAR Sm,-Continuin g you r invit.ation correspo nd e nts on top of first co lum n of your J an uary .wlth Messrs. nolds and Branson's advertisement on ll1slde of cover, wIth the strongly held opinion that some suc h .article .fin.d .a ready welcome from First-aiders; the wnter enqLllres If It. IS not possible to provide a pocket. outfit of one or two esse ntIal articles likely to be of much assistance to one rendering help in case of need or accident.

So far as the writer is concerned, he has obtained an empty flat oblong tobacco tin that outside pecker of jacket, and in it so far as very 11l1.1lted space. permIts, k eeps triangu lar bandage, short len gt h of I In. 2 In. roller bandage

self-adhesive plaster, lunar, caustlC In wood case, sm all pair of forceps-and, .t ell it not in capsules of amyl. These with Esmarch mdla-rubber tornlquets used as a b elt a n d pairs of scissors in pocket book, is what the writer thinks may prove useful should he .be called upon to act.

The conclUSion of the foregomg IS: would not one or other of the persons who do such things, put up such a poc k e t o utfit. Some such lines as indicated, at a popular price.

Strictly as a First-aider, it is tho ught such might be composed of:

I. A suitably designed tin case-say oblong sh ape, round ed corners.

2. Tri angular bandage, marked with diagrams of how to apply.

3. Stick of luna r caus ti c

4. Self-adhesive plaster.

5. Rubber bands.

6. Esmarch (or similar) elastic torniquet. (T he Indi arubber torniquet has its distinct advantages, though in case of electr cal accident, i.e. to pull persons in contact with li ve wires out from contact)

7 Pai r of forceps

8 Pai r of scissors.

9. And last, but not le ast, a small reserve case 01 wax vestas, in case, as happened to the writer once, yo u fall over the body of a person in the roael of a pitch dark night. A bicycle accident it was, and no means of asce rt ain in g-br want of a light-what was really the maller.

Pray forgive if this com muni catio n is too lon g to be pleasant, but it rep resents several previous failures to get s uch an arrangement on the market, bUl the reasons set forth at the beginning seems to tempt one to make another attemp t.

Yours, with anticipating thanks and all b es t wishes fOr the entire success of FIRST AID,"

S LLOYD HA RVEY, S.J.A.A., No. 66,47 4.

To tlte Editor (If F IR ST A1/)

DEAR S_lR,-As a .member of the St. J ohn Ambulance Brigade, I \\"Ish to heartlly endorse your leacle r « The Coming Coronation," in February's issue.

Having h ad the ( I think) unique experience of being the only London Volunteer who h as been throu gh both the Chinese South African I hav e had the opportunity of seemg the wo nd erful way m whIch the Chief a nd hi s assistants

A I D. March, J 902 have carried out the ir dut ies , and with you, I trust we shall not h m-e to wait long be fore they are suitably recog nisecl. -Yo urs truly, W. H. NO .9 DIVI Sio n.

Mr. T. C. Crowden, Engineer of L eam ington, r ece ntly gave, at Rugby, a most int e res ting lec tur e on th e "Hist<:)[y and D evelope m ent of Fire Engines)) and the serVlce ge n e ra ll y, illustrat e d by a large numb e r of lantern slides. This le c ture extended back to a p e riod beyond our connaissance au d was brought right up-to-date, eve n in c luding th e motor fire -eng ine. Mr. Crowden t e ll s us that it will affo rd him pl eas ur e to r epea this lecture to any brigade whi ch would b e int e res t ed in the same and mak e arrangem e nts in th e ir di st ri ct fo r its delivery. As a lectur e r we find NIL Crowden to be bot h most interes ting and ins tructive.

T he growth of th e Private Fire Brigade movement in Lieces t er mu s t be co rdi a lly welcomed. Though it was born but twelve months ago, it can already boast of a m e mb ers hip of thirteen brigades, of an a \ erage strength of t en firemen. Still, as Mr. S Faire-who presided at th e ga th e ring o n th e 18t h in s t. -and Mr. Superintendent Ely pointed out, th ere is ample scope to r aise th e thirt ee n to thirty. Th e advantages of estab lis hin g a fire brigade in eve ry large fac tor y or warehouse are so many and subs t an ti al, that they must comma nd the ge n e ral asse nt. Th e municipal brigade is a model of its class. Unless, h oweve r, it is s uppl emen ted by private b odies of fire m e n n each big local estab li sh m ent, it can har d ly re du ce the danger of a big fire to a minimu m . I t is t o be hoped, therefore, that th e new association wi!) be enabled to boast of a steady influ x of r ecruits from the workmen of the large private firms.

WA TED, an Officer's Great Coat, S.J.A. B. pattern; a lso a Surgeon's Belt; must be in good condition and reaso nable in pri ce -Wr ite J.R.R., care of FIRST AID, 46, Cannon-street, E.C.

COUPON TICKET

SPECIALLY GUAIV\NTEE]) BY

The Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, LIMITED,

40, 42, & 44, MOORGATE STREET, LONDON, E.C. (to whom of Claims, under the following conditions must be sent within seven days uf acciclen t t o the above address.)

£100

will be paid bv the aho\'e Corpo ration to the ega l representative of anyone who is killed I)y an accidel1l to the Passenger Train (within the United Kingdom or Channe l I slands), in which the deceased was a ticket bearing o r paying passenge r or who sha ll ; ha\-e I,een fata ll y injured thereby (should death result within ninety clays afte r such acc icl ent)

Pl{O VID ED that the person so killed or injured had upon his or her person or had eft at home this ticket, with his, or her, usual signature, written prior to the accident, on th e space provided below, which, together with th e gi\'ing of notice within th e tim e as hereinbefore mentioned, is the essence of thi s con t rac t.

This insurance h o ld s good [o curren t issue only and carries th e benefits of and is subject to, the con diti ons o f th e "OCEAN ACCIDENT AND GUARANTEE COM PANY , Lilllited, Act, 1890," Ri sks Nos. 2 and 3.

Th e Corporation admit th at the purcha. e of this l 'ape r is th e payment of a premium under Sec ti on 34 of the Act. No pe rson can recover under more th an one Coupon ti cket in

FIRST AID

The Independent Journal for the Ambulance and Fire Services.

Conducted by ARTHUR. T. DALE, M.J.I., and JOHN REYNOLDS.

No. 94.

To Our Readers.

As it is the earnest wish and dcsire of the new Proprietors to make this J ourna as att ractive and entertaining as possible, correspondents in all parts of the COLlntry are asked to give it all the help they can. Superintenden s of Co rp s and Officers of Divisions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Officers of the Volunteer ?lleclical Staff orps, the Volunteer l\mh ulance School of Instruction, and Chief Officers of Fire Brigades \\ ill, it is hoped, do their best to make it kll0\\-n amongst the members of their respective organisations, and will also send for puhlication their official news ancl notices. Suggestions are invite] for Prize Competitions and other matters \\ hich \\ill advance the interest of the Journal.

\"'le particularly desire to ask our correspondents to be hrief and to the point in any communications they may send us for puhlication.

'vVe are pleased to record the fact thal we are already receiving a great accession of support from all parts of the country, and as our space is somewhat limited, in dealing with re[Jorts of local meetings for prcsentation of certificates, <'(c., it would he heller that a hrief report

\\-ere written, giving a short resume of the various points touched u[Jon by the princi [Jal speakers, rather than that a lengthy newspa[Jer report should be sent giving in detail the hole record of the meeting. This report is douhtless int eresting to loca l First-aiders, but it must he borne in Illind that \\c are catering for the AmiJulance and Fire Brigat1e world at large.

TEIOIS OF ::;UBSClUPTION".

For 12 months, IS. 6el., post free, to he sent to the Puhlishers, ;\1 essrs. Dale, Rcrnolcls and Co., 46, Cannon·street, London, E. C. / ddrcss-" Twellty/ollr, J:olldoll." Fe/ePI/(ine j 'o. )-177 Rall!.-.

Brevities.

F OR pur e a nd unadult erated c h eck, com m e nd m e to th e followin g, which appea red in the J'lt'w Age of \pril loth ; th e ita li cs are o ur o wn, we ca n il11::!gine the condi g n punishm en t which wo uld b e m eted o ut to the Editor of a continent::!l journal should he have the temerity to to vilify in so outrageous a m a nner th e military forc es of hi s country. Truly, we En g li s h are a long suffering race :"N o Brodrick ha s r efu sed permission to send an ambulance t o South Africa to afford aid to th e Jjo e rs. It is no sec r e t that it was h oped that the permission would be granted a s an acknowledgment o f th e giving up of Lord Methuen. Th e re fu sal will infallibly b e regarded as a particularly odious act. Th e real r easo n s of course, not stated.' Ve do not know of how m a ny perso n s th e am bu bnc e wou Id have consisted; pro babl y fifty

would have been q uit e an o utside number. It would have been be.tter for our reputation to run the risk of these fifty men bemg added to the forces fighting agains t our 300 ,000 men, white and black, than to let it be said that we were unwilling that the Boers should have the aid of an ambulance. But there is another consideration. Tf7zat tlze GO'l'ey/lment dreads alJO'l/e all is tlzat tlzele slzould be illdependmt 7.od/lesses of wlzat it is doiJlg in SOlttlz Afr/ca ; of wllat murders are beilll; dom by its assassills Ilired ill all qlfarters of Ihe globe It is very difficult, for any person not at present in South Africa, to get permission to enter it; it is equally difficult for any person at present in South Africa to get permissison to leave it. The Goyernment dreads above all things that the de lud ed people of this country should learn anything of the actual position of affairs, growing more desperate eve r y day. This is why Ir. Brodrick has refused permission to the ambu lance to proceed to South j-\frica "

I N a recent jaunt through Belgium and Germany, one of our editors encountered many of his old fire brigade and amb ulan ce friends, from wham he met with a good reception. l \t Hamburg he had the satisfaction of seeing the horse ambulance lift an animal that had fallen from apparent ex hau stion. The ambulance was worked by the fire brigade of which our excellent friend, Westphalen, is the chief, and it was a pleasure to witness the humane efforts to relieve the suffering of this poor horse. Westphalen reports that during the last twelve months, he has had oyer 2,000 fire calls in l-hmburg, and that he is now busy "i siting the principal cit es in the German Empire The two Sha nd -Mason engines at the Hal11burgh headquarters were not on ly well kept but highly spoken of by the men.

FOLLOWING a sugges ti on of direktor (of the P ru ssian C ultu s-ministe r ium) representatives of nearly a ll the large towns of the Monarchy, and delegates from n ume rous corpo rat e bodies, met together in Berlin on :M arc h 24th to organise a cen tral committee for ambulance \York in Prussia. Professo r von Bergmann, who has already don e much in unifyin g and rendering efficie nt the Berlin ambulance stations, presided. A paper had been prepared giv in g g uidin g prin ciples and actions for the organisation of ce ntrali sed wo rk. These principles, with tr ifli n g alterations, we re carr ied by the meeting. .A centra l committee was e ec ted, with Professor yon Bergmann as president, and Professor G. as honorary sec retary -* **

THE IIospdal says :-" The matron-in-chief of Queen

-FIRST

Alexandra's Imperial Military ursing Sen-ice has arrived in England to take up her duties, which are ot a vcry important and responsible character. For example, in her hands rests the obligation of making appointmE:nts, deciding upon promotions and retirements, and organising an adequate staff of special nurses who will be detailed for duty in cases of emergency, or for service in the smaller hospitals. It has been a matter of some comment that a lady whose name is widely knmyn and esteemed in connection with army nursing W2.S not to the post which has been besto\\'ed upon :\fiss Browne temporarily; but we understand that her claims were far from being overlooked; perhaps, indeed, it may turn out that consideration for her had something to do with the temporary nature of the present appointment."

* **

THE Cap e Regt"ster says, referring to the Boer methods of nursing :-" It is reassuring to find that the principal recommendations of the Ladies' Commission had been carried out, and that the death-rate, even in :\f erebankwhich has been the subject of so much a prt"ori criticism, but which has successfully vindicated its character by the testimony of a medical board and by the clear demonstration that there is virtually not another place in Natal which offers equal advantages for a large concentrated population-' remained singularly low. Dr. Franks reports that in many cases the Boers used 'primitive, ignorant, and revolting methods of treating the sick,' and one or two examples are given. \Ye are afraid that these 'old wives' specifics are by no means confined to the concentration camps. Even here at home very primitive or superstitious'cures are tried. And the faith they inspire in their votaries sometimes effects as much as the bread pills which are often supposed to achieve wonders."

* * *

ambulance classes Why not? I fancy that the parable or illustration about the ox or the ass which fell into a pit on the Sabbath might fairly be held to be applicable to the qualifying stages of the service of charity and necessity. Sutton Bridge, famous for its crossing of the ene, is much exercised in spirit because the vicar has approved Sunday ambulance classes, and the vicar says he is sorry the critics don't approve, but he'll (words to that effect) rather than give them up."

THE Globe says: The remarkable statement with reference to the conduct of the Dutch Ambulance during the war made on Saturday by the Dutch :\Iinister for Foreign Affairs ought to have a very definite effect upon the Anglophobia of his fellow-countrymen. The members of the Ambulance are now prisoners of war in Ceylon, and from the facts which the Minister himself admits we can only say that they are extremely fortunate not to have met with a much more gloomy fate. It is now openly and aUlhoritively confessed that these people, under cover discharging a work of mercy, and claiming the protectIOn of the Geneva Red Cross, carried military letters for the Boers, and practically acted as though they were a

:\10.-

April, 1902.

part of the belligerent force_ To any right-thinking man conduct such as this is about atrocious as anything that can be imagined. If the Dutch do not feel a sense of bitter shame that their countrymen should have been guilty of it, it can only be because they are so carried away by a fanatical hatred of England as to be incapable of distinguishing right from wrong in any matter in which she is involved. Our generals gave this Ambulance every possible facility for carrying out the duties which they professed to be discharging: they were allowed to pass freely from our lines to those of the enemy; and they rewarded us by acting as spies and secret messengers for the Boers. Any other power would have shot these hypo rites out of hand the moment it caught them, and we are glad to see that the Dutch Govertlment has the grace to admit that there is no case for demanding their rele:J.se. The Foreign speech is, however, another welcome indication that the various European Governments are beginning to realise that it is as unwise as it is indecent to allow the tide of \nglophobia to flow unchecked over the peoples they rule; and though there are but few signs as yet of any diminution of the popular madness, there are very distinct signs that its manifestations are being discouraged from above.

*

* .l(-

To all the varied uses to which electricity is put must now be added another, that of aiding the fireman in his work of rescue. Tbe X ew York Fire Brigade Department is credited with having adopted the searchlight in order to shed light on dark floors and halls of burning huildings in in ordc:r easily to find anyone in a burning building who has been overcome by smoke, or is ·insensible from any other cause. It is stated that the current is supplied by a dynamo fitted very much like an ordinary steam fire engine; presumably with a steam engine fitted with a driving wheel.

*

* -;(-

A CORRESPO)lUE);T trenchantly asks, \\'by not a police horse ambulance service for London? Echo answers, Why?

Police Ambulance.

BLACKPooL. - The police rendered first aid to 68 persons during 19°1. The whole force (with the exception of four men) pold ambulance certificates. The police horse ambulance recf'ived a number of calls the year.

OLJJH.UL-The police horse ambulance was called to 259 cases of accidents and sudden illness during last year. The police also rendered first aid to over 200 persons, exclusive of the above.

SCARLETT FOR HORSES.-Our Dumb Friends' League recently held an exhibition at Tattersall's of a horse ambulance, which has been constructed with the object of removing any horse that may meet with an accident in the streets of London. The am bub.nce will be located in Tilling's-yard, Torman-street, Chelsea, and its telephone number, which is 105, Kensington, will be known to every constabie.

April, 1902. - FIR " T

Our Portrait Gallery.

·CPT.

E. GRAH.UI, CORPS.

I:\' our Gallery this month we haw the plea ure to present our readers the portrait of one of our "Lancashire Boys who has done good suit and sen'ice for his Queen and country in South "0\. fri ca.

Supt. Graham, who is a native of Haslingden, took his first aid certificate in 1896, qualifying for the medallion in 18 99. In the year 1897 he was duly enrolled in the

•

Haslingden Corps of the t. John Ambulance Brigade, in which he subsequently rose to th e rank of uperintendent.

During the dark days which followed the Briti h reverses in South Africa, when continual calls were made on the St. John Brigade, :\Ir. Graham at once intimated his desire to go out and undertake the duti es appertaining to the nursing of our ick and suffering soldiers at the front. It was not. howe\'er, until the re,-ocation of the order which prevented officers from volunteering, that upt. Graham had th e chance of gratifying his laudable desire to assist hi comrades who were already actiYely engaged in hospital work at the front.

On the 2nd of :\larch, howe"er, he was accepted by the authorities at head quarters, and during the time of mobilisation prior to his departure for the front, he rendered valuable aid to the hard-\wrked staff there, and he is gratefully remem bered by them.

On qth, 19°0, he proceeded in charge of a draft to Aldershot, and subsequently left for South "\'frica, wher!', in accordance with hi. contract, he sen-ed in connection wilh the Thoroughly frank and open he was a genuine fa\ourite \vith all of tl10se \,.ho sen-ed under him, and the excellent way in which he carried out his duties has been conclusively proved. It 1S gratifying to know that since his return Graham has been reinstated in his Corps, in which he is very pO!-,lliar alike for hi personal qualifications as for his thorough knowledge of drill and discipline. We wish him many years of useful work, and this wish will, \ye are sure, be echoed by all of those who have been associated with him in his ambulance career.

ROCHD_\LE.-The police horse amtulance turned out to 17 9 cases during 190 I

St. John Ambulance Ass ociation.

C.\RDIFF. - The fifteenth annual dinner of the Bute Docks "-\.mbulance Brigade took place at the Park Hotei, Cardiff, on Thursday, April 3rd. :\1r. J. Hurman presided over a large attendance, and was immediately supported by T. .\ndrews (ex-mayor), Dr. Hughes, Dr. T. \Yallace, Capt. Ross er, upt. E\-ens, T. Heywood, Holtham, and other influential gentlemen with the town and docks. The usual toasts were duly put and honoured, and during the evening a pleasing musical programme was gone through by :\Iiss R._o\.. :\I:rs. D. Edwards, and :\Iiss _-\..

CODXOR P_\RK AXD IRo:\'YILLE.-On Saturday evening, 29th, the members of this class, numbering upwards of fifty, sat down to tea in the Ironville schools, the occasion being the distribution of medals and certificates, and the making of a presentation to Dr. Robson, who had so successfully conducted the classes. :\1r. Charles Henry Oakes, of X ewlands House, presided, and made the presentation, which consisted of a sih-er cigarette case, bearing the follmying inscription: "Presented to Dr. Robson for senices rendered to the Ironville Ambulance Class, 19°2."' Dr. Robson suitably acknowledged the gift. The secretary (:\lr. outhwood) was pre ented with a briar pipe subscribed for by the members.

CL:LLO:\IPTO:\,.-The members of the ambulance class met in the coffee tavern on 21St, the occasion being the presentation of two capital pipes to .:"II. T. Fo ter in recognition of the valuable sen-ices he had rendered the class, each member having pas ed the examination. The presentation was made by ':'1r. Frank Peters in a few wellchosen \yords, :\1. T. Foster suitably replied.

GLOUCE TER.-A meeting of the committee of this centre wa held at the Guildhall on ':'londay e,-ening, 2-1-th, J. Collett, J.P., being in the chair. :\lessrs_ G. and \Y. C. Jones were elected to represent the Centre on the Friendly and Trades' Societies Church Parade Committee. A discussion took place as to the proposed summer competition, to be open to the coenty, and a suggestion was made that it should be held durin a Coronation week, and that the trophy to be competect"'for should be called the « Coronation Trophy," the suggestion being received with favour.

LIYERPOOL. - The 19°0-19°1 report of the committee of the Liverpool centre of John As.ociation, \,-hich ha just been 1S ued, 1- a gmtlfymg record of twel,-e month' ·.tluable work. During the year twentyone first-aid and three nursing cIa ses have been held. The number of classes for \\omen, both in first-aid and nursin a are well maintained. During the year eighty-four of the Cit\" Police have gained certificates in firstaid (which make 2-\'0 ince the formation. of .the centre): fifty-eight have the first and 160 the fina l. }; umerous mstances haye occurred 10 ,,-hich the kno\yledae has proyed to be of the greatest possible ,·alue. year closes with a credit balance of £53 os. 3d

ST. COl.O.\1D. - In connection with the course oflectures

-F IRST

which were aiven by Dr. J. c. Mackay in this town to women, the class p resented him with a handson?e umb:- ell a with tortoiseshell h;:-.ndle, with gold band and ll1SCnptlOn; also a tortoise-shell mounted fountain pen.

'UTTON HRIDC;E.-At a meeting of the Technical Education Committee for the Long Sutton District, acting in connection with the Holland (Lincolnshire) County COl1ncil attention was drawn to the holding of ambulance lectures'at Sutton Bridge on Sundays, and it was stated that this was donc with the approval of the Vicar of Sutton Bridge (the Rev. W. H. Whiting). This gentleman, writing in reply to criticisms, said that he understood that Sunday afternoon was the most convenient time for the ambulauce classes in question. He added that it was generally held by Christians that works of piety, charity and necessity were fitting employments for the Lord's Day, and he thought that attendance at an ambulance class came under the second of these headings, and he referred his critics to St. Luke vi., 6-11. If the incident had caused scandal to any conscientious person, he was very sorry, but for his own part he could not imagine a more profitable way of spending a part of Sunday not required for Divine worship than in preparing one's self for succouring the wounded.

..:\ correspondent writes :-" Many thanks are due to nIr. S. Mossop for exposing the abuse of County Council funds. There are plenty of temptations for railway men to disregard the sanctity of the Lord's Day without being helped by the taxpayers, there being several goods trains, and about five men have to be on rl.uty all day in connection with the bridge.

5t. John Ambulance Brigade. CORPS.

The First l \nnual Dinner of the Officers of the Metropolitan Corps took place at the Holborn Restaurant on ..:\pril 16th: Surgeon Osborn presi?ed. L\ large number of the medIcal, ambulance, and nurSll1g officers of th c corps their friends were pres e nt, and a most enjoyable evemng was spent, one and all expressing the wish that thes e social evenings might be of more frequent occurrence.

HO SPfT \L SATURD,\Y FUND DIVISTON.-At the ast of the !-,ondon rlaying Fields Association Mr. J. S-,- .chalrman, reported that the Hospital Saturday h1l1d DIVISion (Supt. A. R. Rundell) had rend e red valuable and kindly aid on the playing fields, especially on Saturdays. It was resolved unanimously "That the best thanks of the Fields. Associ::ttion be given to the staff for their effic1.ent and kmdly services in all cases of accidents arising on the Regent's Park ground, and that the resolutIOn be entered on the minutes." Pte. E. Tomkins of this c1i\'ision, took the first prize at the recent First-Aid Competition held at Camden Town.

PROVINCIAL CORPS.

The members of this corps paid their annual VISit to St. James's Church on Sunday morning March 2Jrd. The number on parade was about seventy;

AID.- April, I902.

Chief-Supt. O gde n being in command. Th e pulpit was occupied by the Rev. Canon Rogers. Th e collectio n on behalf of the corps amounted to about five guineas

EDENFIELD.-The members of this Division of the St John Ambulance Brigade intend raising subscriptions for the erection of a memorial, relative to the death of one of their members-Private Haworth-which took place some time ago in South Africa, as a mark of respect. The matter has been under discussion [or some time, but nothing definitely has been decided as to what form it sho uld take and where it should be situated, and the matter has been left over for a period.

EASTBOURNE.-A class in first aid under Hon. Surg. Dr. Habgood, is being held in connection with the L. B. and S. e Railway Division. The class consists of 26 members and contains relJresentatives of all grades. Some of the members are go ing through the course for the third time. Others for the second time, and the larger proportion for the first time.

Two medallions are already held by members of the division, viz., Sergt. F. Sheppard and Pte. Rhodes, these were presented by the L. B. and S. C. Railway Company at the recent concert at the Freemason's Tavern, London. After the lecture each evening the members put in some useful drills under the direction of the instructor, CorpI. H. Holloway.

GREAT HARWOOD A D RrsHToN.-A public meeting was held in connection with the Rishton Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, on Wednesday evening, March 26th, in the Infant's School, Commercial -street, Rishton. Certificates and medallions were distributed and presentations were made to Dr. Garr and 1\1r. Whittaker. The report for)he year ending September 20th, showed a balance in hand of £1 19s as against a balance of £7 16s. 5}d. for the previous year. The expenditure was £68 5s. 2d. and the subscription list showed a generous list of donations from a number of Rishton firms and gentlemen.

GREENSTREET.-The distribution of the certificates to the successful members of this Division, took place in the Wesleyan Schoolroom, on Tuesday evening, March 28th. A large number of friends were present. Dr. Selby, who presided, spoke of the pleasure it gave him to distribute the Certificates. During the evening a presentation of a carriage clock in pigskin-case, was made by the Rev. 1'. J. Sewell, on behalf of the Division, to Dr. Selby, in recognition of th e valuable time and services he had renden d to the class. In. thanking the Division, Dr. Sel by said he ver) much appreciated their kindness and hoped he would be approached by the Division to put them through nursing lectures this year.

HECKMONDWIKE.-The members of the Ambulance Corps at Dewsbury, Batley, H ackmondwike and Liversedge attended devine service at Westgate Cong regational Church, Heckmondwike, on March 16th, in memory of 'Villiam I-L H ese ld en, late of Upper Beauregard-street, who died at N orval's Point, South Africa, from enteric fever. The deceased went to the seat of operations in July last. The Rev. W. G. Rees was the preacher. Eight members who had seen active service at the Front were dressed in khaki.

HULL CORPS (Western Divisi o n) .-On April 1st, Mr.

April, 1902. -FIRST

A. H. Johnston, M.R.eS" L.R.c.P., :,r-Ion. to the Western Division Hull Corps gave an mterestmg lecture on "Digestion." At the conclusion of the lecture, Lady Supt. Laverack was asked to present, on behalf of the members, a handsome portmanteau and a pair of bair brushes (in case) to the Doctor from the members, as amark of respect and esteem. In response, ] k J ohnson said he was very mucb surprised as he had not the slightest idea of such a presentation. He wished .to thank and every for their kindness towards h 1111 and said the work which he did for the Division was g iv en willingly, and he hoped to continue his lo ving duties. vote of thanks then given to Lady Superintendent Laveruck for her kmdness in coming to present same.

IRTHLlNGBORouGH.-In connection with this Division a public dance was held in the on Easter lVlonday. :Vlessrs. S. Payne and }, J. Haseldll1e were the lVLC.'s. A good number were present.

KETTERINC.-A meeting of first-aiders was held at the Co-operative Hall, on Friday, March, 21st, under presidency of Mr. F. Mobbs, J.P Mr. r. Seddon said were great possibilities for first-alders, and If an orgal1lSatlOn could be arrar:ged, it would be helpful to the towr: al:d public at large. There was an orgamsatl?n .m existence, and although they dId not want to despise Its work, they could not get away from the that the manner of conducting the business was not satisfactory. It was agreed that in the opinion of tbis meet.ng of first-aid men of the. t. John j\111 bulance it. is ?esirable to keep up the practices, and with thls end .111 new a committee of nine be appointed to put the feehng of the me e ting before the Central Association and report to a future meeting,

LEEDs.-On Thursday, February 22nd, the Lord l\rayor (Mr. i\. E. Butler) entertained to tea 50 members of the Leeds police force, and presented them wIth the certificates and medallions in connection with the St. John .Am bulance Association which they had gained during the winter. Amongst the company ,,'ere the Lady l\1ayoress the :\1isses Butler, the Chief Constable (Major Tarry) and Mrs. Tarry, 1\1r. W. Bowley (secretary of the Leeds centre), nad Dr. Heald, the police instructor.

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l\I1 ILNROW A.]) NEWHEY.-On Saturday e\'cning, March 22nd, a tca party and social gathering promoted by the Milnrow and Newhey Division of the Sl. John .Ambulance Brigade was held in the Tewhcy Conservative Club. About 100 persons attended the tea, and afterwards there was a considerable increase in the number of those present. A very enjoyable evening was spent in singing and dancing.

OVERSE.\L.-A very interesting ambulance competition, promoted by the members of the Overseal Division of St. John Ambulance Brigade, was held in the Manor House grounds, Overseal, kindly lent for the occasion by 1Ir. John Hall, J.P., c.e, on Good hiday. 1\ procession of the various competing teams started from Overseal Stati.on, the headquarters of the Overseal Brigade, headed by the Woodville Prize Band, and marched through the village to the Manor House. The judges were Drs. Ord (Castle Gresley), Hart (:i\Ieasham), and Ferres (Woo?ville) 1.Uter the competition a review was held, and the vanous DlVlslOns, headed by the band, marched again through the yillage to the Navigation Inn, Spring Cottage, where a repast, provided by the Host and Hostess Robmson awaited them. After supper the various toasts were and the rest of the evening was gi\'en over to convlnallty.

RocHD \LE. - The Chief Constable- lIr. 1." Barrywho is Chief Superintendent of the local Corps of the 'l. John Ambulance Brigade, has receiyed a report Head Quarters with reference to the last annual ll1SpectlOn, which states :- " ])rill, \'ery good; First \id \\'ork, very excellent· records all in order. General remarks: L\ \'cry useful corps, in book knowledge as also in practical work."

S[IEFFIELD. - .\ pleasing ceremony took place recently at the Sheffield Tube Works, when the ambulance class presented to Stuart Kirk a gold watch, on his return from South Africa, where he has been for the last two tweh'e months as orderly in the St. J ohn. BrIgade, and afterwards in Brabant ' s Horse,]n whIch he . ros e to the rank of .\cting-Sergeant-lIajor. He returns to ::iouth Africa very shortly 1\1r. S. Earn ha\\' Howell, one of the most popular members of the Sheffield Co.rps., and one \\'ho has don e some good work at the front hImself, made the presentation on behalf of the members of the class.

,

lVL\NCIIESTER AND S.\LFORD -On tbe occasion of tbe visit of T. R.H. the Prince and Princess of Wales to Manchester, in March, the lV1anchester and Salford 1)ivision S. J.A B. undertook street duty. Thrce Officers, four sergeants, six corporals and forty men were on duty: Superintendent Shelmerdine, one sergeant and four men of the 'Whaley Bridge Division also as isted the Manchester Division. Forty cases were trcatcd-one fatal-and fourteen 1 crSOl1S were cOI1\'eycd to the Royal The Manchester R..\.M.C. Volunteers also prondec1 five stations at various points on the route, each station being in charge of one officer, two sergeants, one corporal and e.i ght privates " 'ith all necessaries. \ number of cases recel\'ed treatment.

The funeral of the late Private Flowers took place at the Salford Cemete r y on March 26th. A detachment of men in uniform, in charge of Sergeant Brunt and Corporal Renwic1< attended as a mark of respect, and the coffin was to its last resting place by Privates 1)a\'ison, Clark, Brown, and Hudson.

Dr. J. Eckersley Smith has been appointed as lIon. Surgeon to the Division.

SHIPLEY.-During the Easter holidays Shiple) Glen once more formed the rendez\'ous of the usual crowds of people- generally ayeraging about took full adyantage of the exceptionally weather pre\'atled. To cope with any unfortunate aCCld e nt whlch 111Ight .occ ur. Superintendent \l1 cn of the Shipley .\mbulance Dm had made arranaements for a squad of men. to be 111 attendance durin; the whole of the festiyities wlHch la ted four days. "\ military tent sen'ed as head-quarters" the men who willinaly consented to undertake the \\ od" TI were on duty from two ten p.m ea.ch day. precautions were amply justtlled, cases requtrlng 1" lrst L\'id )) were dealt with, amongst which were ca.se of concussion, dislocations, bruises, &c. Two patlents :\'crc com'eyed to the Hospital, wbilst the remainder were aSSI to their homes. It is gratifying to learn that parents of one youn cr fellow \l'ho was found in an unconCIOllS state--;having fallen the rocks. with which tl:e Glel: IS studded have since sent a dona.tlOn to be .used III conltl1Lling the work of the BrIgade on such OCCGSlOns.

Railway Ambulance.

CALEDONIAN RAILWAy -Mr. Robert Millar, General Manager of the Caledonian Railway, presided over a crowded gathering in the National Hall, April 2nd, in connection with the Eglinton Street Station Am bulance Corps, Glasgow, annual presentation of prizes. In the course of his address the chairman expressed pleasure at meeting a Glasgow audience for the first time since his appointment as general manager, especially as that audience was connected with the Eglinton-street Ambulance Corps, \\:.hich was one of the most important and the oldest of Ambulance Corps throughout the Caledonian system, and one which had always taken a foremost place in the annual competitions. Am bulance work, he added, was very readily and willingly taken up by the servants, and now the movement had spread all along the line. He wished to encourage them to go on with the movement, and he was hopeful that the Ambulance Brigade recently formed would tend to knit together the various corps in furtherance of the work. During the proceedings Dr. Shaw, who has been lecturer to the class for the past twelve years, was presented with a diamond ring and gold seal. A number of medallions and certificates were distributed.

C\RNARvoN. - In the ambulance competltlOn at Bangor, on Thursday, the Carnarvon Railway Team secured the second prize, and each member was presented by iVIrs. Dr. E. O. Price with a set of carvers.

GLASGOW AND SOUTH-\VESTER RA1LW.\y.-The Annual Ambulance Competition for the Maier Cup, presented for local competition amongst the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Ambulance men, took place at Ayr, on Sunday last. Drs. Rowan and Young officiating as judges. Two teams of fIve each competed The winners were-Messrs. Q. Smith, T. M'Caig, A. Watt, A. MCMurtrie, an? W. Millar, and their score was 78 points as against 73 awaded the losers. The competition was under the auspIces of St. Andrew's Ambulance Association, and Mr. J. T. Scott, Secretary of the Association for Ayrshire, was present.

GREAT RAILWAV.-The annual competitons 111 the final diVISion 111 connection with the Great Eastern Railway Ambulance Corps took place at Ley ton TO\<\"I1 Hall on Thursday, April 17th.

The prize (a challenge cup given by the directors, five cash pnzes of £10 each, given by the general manager, Mr qooday, a roller bandage shoot, presented by the of I-< IRST Am), was won by Liverpool-street, WIth 22I r:narks out of a possible 320; thc second by Colchester, With 2 5 marks; the third by Stratford, with 200 marks; the by March, with 190 ; and the fifth by Brentwood, With 85. .W. Magnus, of Liverpoolstreet, secured the lI1dIvldual pnze.

the evening the prizes were presented at a concert held 111 the bal!, when Lord Claud Hamilton presided over a He supported on the platform by. MIss. Ida hIS daughter, who presented the prizes wltb cbarl11ll1g grace.

J. F. S. Gooday proposed a vote of thanks to Miss Ha.mtlton for presenting the prizes and for the grace with she ha? that duty. It was the first occa?IO'1 upon whIch thiS had devolved upon ber the way In whIch she had done It need be no surprise when they had seen Claud present them with the same grace and affabIlity

A I D.- April, I902

The resolution was carried by acclamation.

Lord Claud returned thanks on behalf of Miss Hamilton. Speaking as her father, he felt more tban ordinary pleasure at her presence, because this was the first public duty she had ever performed, and he hoped, if she was spared to perform many duties of a somewhat analogous :haracter, that she would always recollect tbat the first occasion on which sbe appeared in thilt capacity was to present prizes to members of an association which existed for the benefit of suffering humanity.

Mr. J. Holden proposed a vote of thanks to the competition judges. Their task was no easy one j it was not only onerous, but extremely difficult, and wben they remembered how natural it was that there should be a good deal of feeling as to their decision in some of tbe delicatclybalanced conclusions they had to come to, it spoke volumes for their ability and impartiality that there had never been a complaint at the decisions they had arrived at. Mr. Church-Brasier had been with them during the whole ten years that the corps had existed, and it was largely due to his kind assistance that the corps had been so popular and successful.

Mr. Stiff, representing the winning team, seconded the resolution.

Mr. Church-Brasier and Dr. Roberts rep lied. Other votes wer e duly passed. An excellent musical programme was greatly enjoyed.

GREAT \VESTERN RAILwAy.-The annual competition for prizes given by the Directors in connection with the Great Western Railway Centre of tbe St. John Ambulance Association, are now be ing held at various parts on the Company's system. The members of the Great Western Railway Company's staff eligible to take part are those who have passed the three examinations of the St. John Ambulance Association. The sectional competion for this district took place at Plymouth, on Wednesday, April 2nd, with the following result ;- Stretcher teams (five men)-I, £2 lOS., Plymouth Team NO.9. This team will go to Paddington to compete with the other first prize teams, for the selection of a team to represent the G. W. R. Company in tbe forthcoming Annual Inter-Railway Challenge Shield Competition. Dr. IV. R. Edmond, of Totnes, acted as judge, assisted by Mr. W. H Maunder, Secretary G. \v.R. Centre of th e St. John Ambulance Association, Paddington. It may be stated that upwards of 6,000 members of the Great Western Railway Company's staff have gained the certificate of the St. John Ambulance Association.

SOUTH-EASTERN AND RAILWAv.-A competition between' teams of the South-Eastern and Chatham H.ailway Company 's employes under tbe St. John Ambulance Associ at ion, recently took place at Cam berwell, London. The results were as under;-Victoria, total points, 355; Bromley, 345; Dartford, 3I3; Herne Hill, 30 7 ; Ashford running shed and Margate, 300; Broadstairs and Ramsgate, 235; Canterbury (East), 280; Hither Green sidings, 279 Ashford Works, 270; FolkesLone, 250; 242; Hastings, 243; Redhil1, 238. The maxImum was 475.

TROOK. - On Friday, March 21st, in tbe Unionist Hall, the Glasgow and South-Western Directors' Challenge Cup and Badges were presented to the Troon Ambulance Team, in the presence of a large gatbering. Mr. Adam Wood, J.P., presided, and Mr. Cooper (General Manager) congratulated tbe team on their success.

April, I902.

- FIRST St. Andrew's Ambulance Association.

CRIEFF - The annual meeting of the Crieff Station Ambulance Corps of the Caledonian Railway Ambulance Brigade took place at the on March 21St, The secretary's and treasurer's reports were submitted, and were of a favourable character. Tbe balance, however, in the treasurer's bands was small. The honorary office-bearers having been re-elected, the office-bearers for the year were el cted as follows ;-Captain, A, Arthur; Vice-Captain, David Rutterford; Lieutenant, T. Buchannan; Vice-Lieutenant, Alexander Russell; Secretary and Treasurer, William Wichart Executive, Messrs. Todd, Crombie, King and Ferguson. The Secretary reported that Colonel Colquhoun, of Clathick, in accepting tbe position of Hon. Captain, had forwarded £ 1 to the funds of the corps.

DUNFERMLlNE.-The annual ambulance competition for the Mathewson cup, confined to public works in West Fife, was held in the Drill-hall, Bruce-s treet, Dunfermline, recently Six teams entered, each comprising five competitors. The examination, which embraced oral, practical and transport work, was cond ucted by Dr. Gordon Price and Dr. Smith, Edinburgh ; and Drs. Lee Sturrock and Mathewson, Dunfermline. At the close, Dr. Gordon Price announced the result as follows -

1. Cardenden N"o. I, 170 points (cup and gold badges); 2. Halbeath, 165 (gold centre badges); 3. Dunfermline and District Corps, 160; 4. Lochgelly, ISO; 5· Cardenden NO.2, 147; 6. Lassodie, 144.

GLASGOW.-The open competition for the valuable Cowan Cup took place in the Waterloo Rooms, Glasgow, on Saturday, and at tbe finish the trophy and medals were awarded to the team representing Queen-street Station G. and S. W. R

A general meeting of the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association was held on March 24th, in the Masonic Chambers, IV es t Regent-street, Glasgow. The Marquis of Breadalbane, president, occupied the chaIr.

The object of the meeting, tbe Chairman stated, was to submit a proposal of the council to the effect that the Association should approach the officers of the Grand Priory of the Order of the St. John of Jerusalem in England to ascertain upon what terms they should carryon tbe ambulance work the Order of St. John were doing in Scotland. His Grace explained that the Order of St. John had attached to it an ambulance association known as tbe St. John Ambulance Association. That body held some classes in various parts of Scotland. The Order had as its head the King, and it had been suggested that the old Priory of Torphichen, which was tbe Scottish Order in the days gone bye, should be reestablished. If that were done the ambulance branch of tbe Order would come to life in Scotland, and he did not think it was desirable tbat there should be two competing ambulance associations. He therefore moved tbe following resolution ;-" That the Council confer by deputation or otherwise with the officers of the Grand Priory of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England in order to ascertain on what terms it would be possible for this association to do the ambulance work in in Scotland of that Order."

Dr. Beatson, in seconding, said a few words of explanation were necessary, because he there were important interests bound up with the proposal. They ought to have a very clear understanding as to how far they were prepared to go. He would not have

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seconded the resolution if he had not had the greatest confidence in their chairman, who had only one object in view the interests of ambulance work in Scotland. At the same time he wished that the resolution had come from the Order of St. John of Jerusalem itself. He desired that tbe change sbould be brought about if it was to benefit ambulance work generally. The resolution, however, committed them to notbing, so far as he could see, and he therefore heartily supported it, because he did not think they as an association should bind themselves in any way until they knew the exact conditions upon which they were going to work. They ought not to sacrifice their own independence, which they had gained by Royal Charter, for any attachment to any body, no matter how ancient or historic it might be.

Mr. George E. Watson said that Mr. Beatson's opinions were exactly the feeling of the committee of tbe Edinburgh Executive.

The resolution was unanimously approved, and after the transaction of some formal business the meeting separated.

GLASGow.-Th e one bright spot in the terrible accident in Glasgow on tbe occasion of the InternatIOnal football match was the splendid service rendered by the local ambulance corps. ,Vhen the terracing collapsed hundreds were precipitated to the ground along with the debris, and, the accident occurring at the extreme end of the oval, their fall would be one of between 30ft. and 40ft. Tbe scene below was a shocking one. The work of rescue was a most arduous one gradually, however, sufferers were brought out and laid alongside the fence, and soon tbat part of the ground resembled a miniature battlefield. The clothes of tbe victims -so me 50 in number- were torn to shreds, the arms and legs of man y hung limp and broken, and all were badly cut and bruised, blood flowing freely from noses, ears, eyes and mouths. The debris of the terraci.ng was hastily transformed into rough splinters for first-atd purposes, while larger beams were used as stretchers to carry the dead - five in num ber-off the field. At first there was a lack of doctors, but many were speedily forthcoming, and meanwhile "first aiders," including many from among police and reporters, did excellent work. The scene immediately after the disaster was one never to be forgotten, and many hardened ambulance work ers were rendered sick by the ghastly sights.

PERTH.-On March 2 ISt the annual festival in connection ,,·ith tbe Railway Station Ambulance was held in the Co-operative Hall. Dr. Parker Stewart presided, and tbere was a larue attendance. The Cbairman expressed regret that Sir Robert Pullar, the the Association, had not been ab1e to preSide oWll1g to .IlIn ess He was sure he echoed their sentiments when he saId that they trusted tbat Sir Robert would soon be able to enter once more into public life. The of benefits to be derived from ambulance tUItIOn, and saId that individual members had their reward in the store of information which they gatbered, and which they were always ready to give to any woul1?ed comr.ade. In the of the evening the various pnzes, certtii.cat.es, and medallIons ,,-ere presented to the successful competlto:s. ..: \n programme of instrumental and ,-ocal mUSIC was sustall1ed by a number of friends.

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PRESTON.-During 1901 the police rendered first aid to 175 persons, and the borse ambulance responded to 45 calls.

April, I902.

FIRST AID

IN these enlightened days of the Modern twentieth century it is not often, we Phari s eei s m. are pleased to sa)" that one comes across a case of such bigotted Sabbalarianisl11 as that recently reported from a town in Lincolnshire. From what can learn from the local press, it appears that it has been customary for the Technical Education Committee at Sutton Bridge to make an annual grant for the purposes of instruction in first aid. Amongst those who aspire to obtain a knowledge of this most ,"aluable and practical ,york, are as usual a number of railway men, who, as is usually the case, find that owing to the nature of their calling they are precluded from joining the week-dJ.y classes. We understand that the classes are held in the local parish schoolroom, and on the maller being explained to the large-hearted and liberal-minded vicar of the parish he at once acquiesced to the request that these men might be permitted to have the use of the room on Sundays 'Would it be believed this gracious act has roused the ire of a certain section of the Committee, and at a recent meeting it was proposed to withhold the grant unless these Sunday lectures were abandoned . The vicar, we are glad to learn, has taken a firm stand in the matter, and in a letter which has appeared in the local press he has admonished these narrow-minded bigots, and referred them to that ]Jassage in the New Testament wherein our Lord rebuked the bigotted Sabbatarians of that era for taking exception to IIis having rendered aid and succour to the sick and suffering on the Sabbath day. 'I\'e presume these Committeemen do study their ew Testament; if so, we can only commend to them a careful and more searching stud y of that portion which relates to Our Lord' s mission on earth. He who gave us that grand parable of the" Good SJ.l11aritan," and who chose his disciples from amongst working men, we are sure, look with a kindly eye on these lowly workers on our railway systems who are 'willing to give up a great portion of their little leisure - indeed, in many cases, their only leisure - for the purpose of learning that most inmluable work how to relieve ancl succour the sick and suffering. - - -

The mem bers of Honour of the French Fecleration hearing that M. Rabany (the Chief of the Bureau of the Minister of the Interior of France in whose office is the control of the '.vhole Fire Service of France) is coming over to CoronatlOn, accompanied by Rabany, have deCided to gtve them a reception, which is to take:! the form of a River Trip on t he Upper Thames

Presentation of South African War Medals .

I3uRY.-A public meeting and social gathering in connection with the Bury ])ivision was held in the J\thenreull1 HaIJ, on April ISt, when a number of war medals were presented to those members of the Division who had been out to and returned from South Africa Alderman T. Holt (Deputy Mayor) presided, and there were also present the Mayor (Mr. J. Batlersby), the Rev. R. P Hudson, ])r. Johnson, Superintendent Houghton, S:;pcnntendent Masser (Tottington), Chief-Superintendent N. Ashworth (Edenfield).

CCITHEROK- Thirteen member of the Clitheroe i\mbulance Division were presented with 'IVar Office medals for service in South Africa. The presentation was made by Mr. W. K. Wilkinson (in the absence of the Mayor), and was preceded by a banquet. Clitheroe till recently had the largest number of Ambulance men ll1 South Afric.a of any town in the kingdom in proportion to the population.

HEywooo. - A gathering in connection with the St. John Ambulance Brigade (Heywood Division) was held on 29th, about sixty persons being present. Alderman A. C. .Maden presided, and the Mayor of Heywood (CounCillor Popple) presented medals to Sergeant W. L. Clegg and Privates S. Diggle, C. Jackson, D. Ogden, and J. 'IV. Howarth, Ambulance men, who have returned from South .£\[rica after service in the battlefield.

IpSWICH.-.\t the usual fortnightly drill of the Ipswich Branch of St. J obn Ambulance Brigade, in the Corn Exchange, on April 7th, an interesting ceremony was witnessed in the presentation of medals to members of this corps who have se en service in South Africa.

Deputy-Commissioner Eliston said he was proud to say that during the last three months he had received as as 25 0 ':rar .medals for distribution for the No. 3 Dlstnct. Conslderll1g that the strength of the District was just under 2,000 he thought the fact that one in seven served at Front in South Africa was extremely creditable to the c1istrrcl. The thanks of the country were due to those who had come forward to serve Queen and country in the early part of the war and at the time of ational emergency. Three cheers heartily accorded to the recipients -before leaving.

I.RONBRlDGE. - On April 3rd, the Sen-icc Members of the Iron Bridge Corps·, St. John Ambulance Brigade, at. Trinity IIaIl, Dale-end, for the purpose of reCelVll1g theIr medals from the hands of Colonel Anstice V. D The gallant officer highly complimented them the they bad taken in the great work of attending to the slck and wounded, and said, had it not been for the 2,000 men of the Brigade who had followed the army in South Africa the loss of life amongst soldiers who were :"ounded or fever-stricken would have been greatly ll1creased. The country should feel proud of the men who had given their time to learn their duties so that they had ?een able to .carry out their work so satisfactorily, not only ll1 South Afnca, but in China also He was glad to know

-FIRST

that bctween thirty and forty men of the Ironbridge Corps had been engaged in the campaign.

KEIGH LEY.- The large gathering at the Mechanics' Hal l on Tuesday evening, ivI Lrch 13th, promoted by the Keighley Corps of th.e St. John Ambulan,ce Bngade, testified to the populanty of the movement 111 the town. The function consisted of dancing, singing and the presentation of war medals to six members of the Ambulance Bri(Yade who had volunteered for service in South Africa_ b Dancing was suspended for a short time for thiS purpose.

Major Marriner - who has always taken the keenest interest in Ambulance work, and than whom no une has a higher appreciation of its value- presided and dilated upon the good work done by the members whom they were delighted to honour on that It a speech full of patriotism, and was well I he Mayoress than graciously pinned the South /\fncan war medals to the breasts of the four members present, and to the motbers of the two young men wbo are still serving at the front she handed the coveted tropbies.

In replying to the vote of t1?anks, for his .wi.fe, l\layor congrJ.tulated NT ajar Marnner o? the dlstmctlon conferred upon him by the King, and hiS only regret was that the medal to which the Major was entitled by length of service had not arrived so that the Mayoress could have pinned it to his breast in the presence of that large and enthusiastic gathering.

KEt-: DAL. - On April 3rd, there was a large gathering in the Town Hall, the occasion being the distribution of medals by Mrs. Bagot to the memb.ers of St. . J Ambulance Brigade who had served 111 South \fnca. Mrs. Bagot was accompanied by Captain Bagot, M.P., Mr. and Mrs. Tacob Wakefield, &c. The first part of the proceedings of Am bulance del;lOnstrations by the Borough Police Squad, under the. Chlef Constable (Mr. Harriss); St. Thomas' Boys' Brrgade, commanded by Pte. H. Martindale; the Bearer Section of the 2nd V:B. Border Regiment, under Sergt. H. Hunter the ActlVe Service Squad, commanded by Sergt. J. Wnght, and St. John "Competition Squad," who won the Lancashire Challenge Cup and the Crossfield Challenge Shield, in charge of Sergt. Heslop.

Surgeon-Capt. Cockill having notified the receipt of letters of regret for inability to be present from Colonel Weston, the Mayor, Mr. C. Somervell, D: Noble, Colonel Trimble (Deputy Commissioner of the remarked tllat when they were informed that distribution of medals would be made 111 thiS district as was at first proposed, and they had to decide to have them distributed locally, there was only onc name that seemed to them to be suitable for the occasion, and that was [rs. Bagot - for she knew the work of the men to whom was shortly going to present the medals. At conclUSIOn of an eloquent and stiring address, the <;aptall1 asked Mrs. Bagot to distribute the medals, remarkll1g that she knew the work they had to do; and, he was sure, the men would appreciate from her hands as they would from no o.tbers the medals she would give them, because she had practically been alongside them in the cause they had so \Yell sen-ed.

Mrs. Bagot then, amidst thc heartiest applaus.e, pil:ned the medals on the tunics of the men, after \,-hlCh Supt. Harrison thanked her for coming to distribute the medals, and said when he informed his men they were to recelve them at her hands there was a general chorus of "That's

A I D. -

ripping." That showed what the men thought of it, and they thanked bel' for what she had done. He had to ask Mrs. Bagot to accept as a momento of that occasion a photograph of the \\-hole of the men who had served in South Africa along with their particular units and length of service. The scroll was almost completecl by Sergt. Inder before he died. It was sent over and finished by one of his brothers, ancl it had been very satisfactorily photographed. It contained a minature photograph of each man who had served out in South Africa, and he asked Mrs. Bagot's acce ptance of it as a memento of those proceedings.

1rs. Eagot, who on to reply, was received with loud cheers, sa id she must first of all thank them extremely for that charming memento they hacl given h e r. It was a complete surprise, and she need scar cely say she would prize it to her lire's end, and would always regard it as one of her most precious possessions , especially as she heard that it was particularly owing to the efforts of Sergt. Inder that it was made The employment of St. John Brigade orderlies during the war marked a very striking epoch in the history of that Brigade_ oreover, it was on e of thos e experiments which had been made during this wJ.r, which had proved absolutely and entirely successful. That, sh e thought, had been admitted by all, esp ecially those were in authority in the hospitals. Whilst she \yas m South Africa she heard nothing but praise of the t. John men and they must remember that they had to compete with' trained orderlies in hospital. Their adaptability and intellig ence in learning the _ and ?uties of hospital life , their pluck and courage .111 which were, necessarily, often of a pamful an? dlstressmg nature, their patience in enduring the long, trymg hours duty-especially in some of those of stress which come in time of war- then good temper over their privations and often over their rough those and many other contingencies were always met 111 the same braY.e spirit, and the tenderness of the St: John orderly to hlS patient .during great surferll1g and 111 the of ?eath simply surpassed words and made the suffering easier to bear and death sweeter. She could assure them that one realised by watching those men what the. love of one man to another could be in its best and highest sense. But she did not speak from h er own obseryatio_n only. She was re-echoing the opinion of many people whom the St. J ohl1 urclerlies had served, and I t was the of those who were competent to judge that she was stnvmg to make them hear that night. Westmoreland honoured sons, and she thought no\\' the medals were presented had been given to them by their country.and theil' J.....ll1g.' they would allow her to thank th e men ll1 .the name ?f thelr county for tbe splendid work i.n {he service of the Sick J.nd wounded soldiers in South .\fnca.. .,

The proceedings then endpd With Sll1gll1g of the National and subsequently a SOCial dance arranged by the St. John .\mbulance Brigade was held and was of a successful and enjoyaole character.

WH \LlW BRlOCE.-..:\ concert and dance. in nection with the aboye Brigade was given on .\pnl 5th , ll1 the Drill Hall. There was a poor H 11 J 1) presided and :0Irs_ lIall dlstnbuted war medals a, ..,' f' L to the members who ha\'e served in South A nca. antern slides illustrating 1\m bulance \York in r\fnca shown by Sergeant \ \' iddup, the connectl\-e readmgs bell1g given by Dr. Joseph NaIl.

National Fire Brigades Union.

His Grace the Duke of Marlborough has appointed WednesJay, l\Iay 24th, 1902, the date for holding the general annual meeting and banquet at the Holbom Restaurant, London, "".e. A large and influential company is expected.

,A?\' ?\' UAl, :'I1EETING OF THE CE?\,TRAL COUNCIL.-

There was a large attendance of delegates and others at the annual council meeting, held at Clifford's Inn Hall, Fleetstreet, E.e., on 1\1arch 26th, among those present being Lieut.-Col. Seabrooke (chairman), Lieut.-Col. Dixon, Captains Folker (hon. gen sec ), Henderson, Dyson, Jollnson, Miller, Graham, Thomas, Westbrook, Hill (Bedford), liT oollard, Clulee, Leach, Sinnock, Andrews, Young (East Grinstead), Evans (Dickinson's), Peters, Boucher, Levy, Chilton, Restler, Bell, Vosper, Richards, Amos, Fortescue, Pizey, Hart Stone, Wells (Margate), Davies, Hamilton, Hetherington, Goslin, and Shaw; Hon Captains Dyer, Darlington, Gardner and Green Surgeon-Major Harrison, Dr. Ettles, Hon Counsel Brown, Messrs e. Kusel and E. W. Tabor.

The minutes of the previous meeting having been sIgned, a vote of condolence and sympathy with the widow and family of the late Captain Worth, Bournemouth, was passed.

The election of the following Brigades was confirmed: -Altrincham, Portslade, Panteg, Barnoldswick, Winchester, Harpenden, Newark (Simpson and Co.), Newbury, Higham St. Heliers, Silsden, Staines, Wigan, Towcester. Tonbndge, Swanscombe, Felixstowe East Ham and Wokingham "

Lieut.-Col. Seabrooke was unanimously re-elected chaIrman. and the various committees having been appointed, th.e Council resolved unanimously to recommend that the of Marlborough) and Vice-Presidents (LIeut.-Col. Dlxon, Major Fox, and Hon. Captain Dyer) be re·elected to office

.A letter from the Duke of Marlborough favouring the of a ban.quet in May next was read by the secretary, and ?t was deCIded to ask his Grace 'what day in the first fortl1lght :'Iray would him A small committee consisting of Captains Peters, Restler Graham and Bell was nominated to make arrangements.' , ,

The intimated that the annual general meetIl1g of the Umon and of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund would be on same day as the banquet.

. A lo.ng dlscussLOn connected with a proposed alteration dnll book took place, and was taken part in by the Chauman and Captams Graham, 1iller, Dyson, Hill, Westbrook and others.

suhmitted-some correspondence he had

WIth Captalo Wells and the Margate local authorities whlch the form of an invitation to hold the annual ;om petltlOn. the. Union at Margate m Jul y or Septem ber. rhe authontles did not th ink it would be p racticable to arrange for a camp at Margate, but prom ised that arrange-

A I D.- April, 1902

me n ts sho ul d be made for bi ll etin g t he me n at diffe re nt hotels, so that it would not cost them more than they wo u ld have to pay at a camp

After a long discuss ion, i n wh i ch the desire that a camp should be held was generally expressed, it was ag r eed to accept the invitation, and a sub-committee, consisting of Major Dixon, Major Finn, Captain Westbrook, and the Secretary, was appointed to visit 1argate, and confer with Captain Wells and the Town Council on the subject, on the understanding that they should, if possible, endeavour to obtain a site for a camp.

During a discussion regarding the Ambulance Department, Col. Dixon stated that it was hoped that a number of ambulance members of the U n ion might be accepted for duty on Coronation day, and requested that Brigades would send in the names of members willing to undertake the work to the han. general secretary at Guildford. I t was unde rstood that all expenses would have to be pai d by the members themselves .

This concluded the business; and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman

COROl\'"ATION FIRE BRIGADE REVIEW.-Nothing has yet been settled about the Review of the members of the National Fire Brigade Union in Windsor Park before His the King. The matter is now in the hands of the President, His Grace the Duke of Marlborough, who is trying to make arrangements with the proper authorities j but no definite reply can be given for some little time.

MARGATE.-The :Mayor and Corporation of Margate have appointed the Watch Committee to meet the special committee of the N. F. B. U., Lieut-Col.-Dixon, Major }'inn, J.P., Capt. Westbrook, and the Hon. General Secretary, and make the necessary arrangements The Tournament Committee will announce an attractive programme for the great meeting at Margate at the annual genera meeting on May 14th, 1902.

SOUTH MIDLA)l"D DlSTRlcT.-The annual district competitions in connection with this district will this year be held at Manor Park, Hampton, on Wednesday, May 28th. Valuable prizes for steamer, manual, escape and hose-cart drills, and am bu lance competitions are offered The secretary is Capt. ..:\. Hill (Bedford).

The annual meeting of the South Wales District of this Union was held at the Queen's Hotel, Cardiff, on Monday, March 24th. C;:aptain Lyne (Newport) presided, and the following appointments were made :-President, Sir J. T. D. Llewelyn; vice-president, Mr. Alfred Thomas, M.P ; chairman of the Council, Captain Lynej secretary and treasurer, Lieutenant A. W. Boucher, Newport; the hon. district surgeon, Dr. A Garrod Thomas. The invitation of Newport was accepted for the demonstration to be held ln August.

The 12th Annual Dinner of the Westgate Brewery Fire Brigade, Bury St. Edmunds, was held on April 1 zth, when Firemen Golding and Palfrey were presented with Long ervice and Good Conduct Medals by Capt. H W Tracy (Ch ief Officer Bury St. Edmonds Fire Brigade), Hon. Sec and Treasurer of the Eastern District N.F.B. U. This brigade has now six members who have the medals, incl u dthe Chief-Sup t. F. Parme nt er, who carries two bars.

April, 1902. -F I RST

Our Portrait Gallery.

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF l\IARLBOROUGH, PRESIDKNT OF THE 1\ATIONAL FIRE BRIGADES

BOTH firemen and ambulance readers of our Journal will accord a hearty vvelcome to the portrait which appears in our "Fire Gallery" this month.

It is but a few years since His Grace accepted the presidency of the 1\ ational !ire U in that time he has succeeded 111 secunng the fnendshlp of

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did-service in South Africa, and in those dark days which succeeded the preliminary disasters in the war, one of the first to volunteer was the noble President who left England for the Front on the 20th January, 1900, his departure being witnessed by all the principal officers of the Union, who gave his Grace a most enthusiastic send-off.

On arrival in South Africa, the Duke went through a portion of the campaign in the position of A. D. e. and galloper to General Ian Hamilton, a post for which he was eminently fitted. His Grace is an intrepid and fearless horseman When General Hamilton met with the accident by which he fractured his collarbone, he was succeeded in his command by General Hunter, and, as there was some doubt as to whether General Hamilton would get another command, His Grace, on the recommendation of that officer, returned to England, where he arrived on August 3rd, I900. His return to his lovely English home will not soon be forgotten by those \yho were privilt.ged to be present, although, in consequence of the death of H.R.H. the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the festivities were curtailed, the warmth of the welcome was none the less hearty and proved how popular and generally beloyed he is in his ancestral home.

Fro/JI all oil jaiJltill >; hy T eJ/JI)lsoli Cole, Scuth r.1frica, £900.

practically the whole Volunteer Fire Force in the country by the earnest and enthusiastic way in which he has thrown himself into the work appertaining to the Union.

The writer well remembers on the occasion of the annual Dinner at \\"hich His Grace presided for the first time there not wanting a few captious critics who que/led the advisability of the appointment, before the dinner, however, was half over the young Duke had succeeded in convincing these pessimists that he was the right man in the right place. He at once showed that h.e intended Lo be no mere ornamental figure-head, but that It was his earnest determination to work for the advancement of the Fire Service in this country, with the object of placing it on a higher position in the estimation of the country at large. In this desire he ha.s been ably seco.nded by the Executive Officers of the UnLOn, but IS n.o gainsaying the fa.ct that it was the personahty of HIS Grace and the efforts that he made which has more than anything else tended to this desired result.. It will. be wcll within the recollection of our readers that It was OWl11g to the kindness of their noble President that thc Union was enabled to run the first camp which took place in the beautiful park at Blenheim, in "i..ugust .1898. The displayed by the Duke and Duchess m the gathenng always he remembered by those who were pre.sent \:'lth pleasure, and a feeling that so pleasant an outmg mIght again take place.

As is well-known to our readers, many of the members of the National Fire Brigades Union volunteered for-and

On this occasion three addresses were presented-one from the l\Iayor and Corporation; one from the tenants, and one from the employes on the Blenheim Estate-all of which were couched in feeling terms of affection and regard. His Grace, in a manly, straightforward <l:nd thoroughly English speech, accepted the addresses, whlch he stated he should prize all his life, and this remark and the few that followed, proved how touched he was by the warmth of his welcome home. It was not the o\'ation accorded to a victorious general, but it was, as the Duke himself said, a reception that practically meant :' lYe are glad to see you home, and hope are not gomg away aaain." This brief and altogether ll1complete record of the Duke, would be more imcomplete still without some reference to the charming and graceful consort who so ably supports her husband in all social or official duties in which he takes so keen an mterest. That she has endeared herself to the inhabitants of Woodstock and the tenantry of Blenheim goes \yithout saying, but, she has a laraer fo\lowina, and Fire Brigade and readers alike who ha;'e had the pri\·ilege and the pleasure of meet'ing her Grace will unite with us in the wish that both she and her husband may be spared for many years, and that their future may be in all things bright and happy.

GLASTOI\BURY.-The new fire station, built at a cost of about £ 1,200, was formally opened on Easter l\Ionday by the l\Iayor (l\lr. l\I. 1- Doidge), in the presence of a large number of the townspeople. The fire brigade assembled at the old station at two o'clock. and, at the invitation of the l\Iayor, proceeded to the new station, where the opening ceremony took place. its concluslOn the local. and yisitin cr briaades from ,Veston-super-1\Iare, Frome,." ells, and fogether with seyeral officers from other then proceeded to the \yhere. er) interesting competitions and dl plays 111 fire and Ii fe-saving was held, afterwards pr!zes "ere 'presented by the :Mayoress. e\'enl11g a dll1ner, pre oyer by the l\Iayor, was held ]J1 the Cro.wn Hotel. Such 111 brief was the proaramme of a gala day ]J1 Glastonbury, and of an ad ven t that attracted and kept 111 terested a yery large number of people.

The History and Developement of Manual, Steam and Motor Fire Engines.

By CrL\S. T. CROWDEN, M.I.eE., M.L.A.S.E.) M.S A, &c., &c

THE subject of this paper is one which I am sure will interest firemen, engineers, and, those associated with fire brigades and users of fire appliances generally. Fire brigades and firemen appear to have existed long before the Christian era.

History tells us that in those days there were two classes of firemen, one for destroying life and property, and the other for saving life and extinguishing fires. It

leather buckets ThEre is little difference between this fire-extinguishing apparatus and those used by the Romans. These squirts were used by three men, two holding the

Apri l, 19° 2 -F I RST

This engine was mounted upon four wheels .and was capable of being drawn by men horses and being worked by .a number of men. It conSIsted of two pump barrels, all' vessel suction tank to independent levers so that one pump' barrel could be used without the other delivering into a pipe with a double goose neck.

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parish beadle running after it, wiping the perspiration from his face.

After placing the engine in position and setting the machine to work, the pumps worked vigorously for about

FIG 3. loop almost in tbe centre of the barrel and the other man from the back means' of a handle. By dlpplllg the snout or nozzle Into water and drawincy the gently back it was filled with water, and °when dIrected towar?s the. fire the man pushed the plunger thus dlscbargll1g the \.I'ater where required.

} Ig. 4 an .cngme constructed by Lucars in 159?, and IS SImply an lmproved squirt mounted on a carnage. 'Vhen the screw-handle is wound back water is put into the funnel until the machine is filled up. ' The tap

Fig. 7 is a fire-engine Wypres made III the year J?7 5· Tbis engine is somewbat sllllllar to the one before.descnbed only fitted into a tank ami arranged to be carne? to the scene of the fire by means of the prong levers wblch were

6 llsed for for pumping purposes. engine is with one pump barrel delivering into an an vessel and dIscharging into a pipe fitted with double goose neck.

FIG. I.

appears. that the and Egyptians used pumping or fire engll1es for extll1gUlshmg fires by a jet of water. These machines were immersed in a pool or stream and were provided with a handle, buckets, suction and delivery valves air vessels and which were provided with a goose neck or double acting swivel joint for directing and delivering a jet of water where required.

Fig. I shows the Egyptian fire engine of the 2nd century. Here you will see we have two plungers worked by a rocking shaft, suction strainers suction and delivery valves, and vessels, which is supposed to have been a somewhat modern invention. This engine was immersed in a of when required for actIon as preVIously described

Fig. 2 shows some fire tools as used by the Romans at the time of Agricola, which appear to have been used by the fire-fighters. Some of the tools are al most identical with those used in England in the 14th and 15th century. It is believed that the other Class of firemen used tools but instead of squirtIr:g they squirted inflammable hCJ,Uld as was known as "Greek

FIG 2. Fire" for burning down cities and '1 <;Jestroying propertyg enerall y.

. FIg. 3 you WI.! see IS the type of squirt that was hung .some of ,our old churches and cathedra s about the

1 hlrteenth Cenlury together with their o ld confreres the

F[(;. 4.

?etween the is .closed, the being turned III an opposite dIrectIOn, the water is discharged through the nozzle on to the fire.

Fig 5 is a !ire constructed by J)eCaus, In 161 5 ThIS Machme lS somewllat similar to the Egyptian fire pump only single acting and fitted into a watertank so that water can be poured in wbile the pumpers are at work. It is also fitted with a double goose

Newsham's Fire Engine, shown by ]:<'tg. 8, bUIlt in the year 1725, was the advent. of the London Brigade Manuel Engine, bemg fitted WIth wheels constructed of solid wood without spokes and drag-shaft which could be used for me?- or horses. This engine is remarkable for the fact th:::t It was the first type of engine in which was used. Prior to tbis date all fire-engines were fed WIth water. by buckets into the cistern. There is, however, a suctlOn cock which enables the engine to pump through its own cistern or through the suction hose. The delivery is provided with a long branch pipe fitted w!th necks so that the jet can be directed m. any dIrectIOn. The man who usually directed the branch pIpe stood upon a small platform provided for that The top rail was used for men to take hold of whtle they stood upon the pumping levers in addition to those who had hold of the

twenty minutes without any result whatcver, when it was found the suction pipe had not been connected.

About this time leather-hose came into use both for suction and delivery purposes, and was invented by a Dutchman, named Van der Heides. All leather hose at this time, both for suction and delivery purposes, was sewn and it was not until 1807 that Sellers &: Pennock, of Philadelphia, U. .A., introduced copper-rivetted hose. (To be colltiNued.)

London Pri v ate Fir e Brigad e Associatio n.

THE annual concert and prize Distribution in the London Private Fire Brigades' Association took place at the Finsbury Town Hall, on :March 19th, when Mr. R Stapley, c.c., presented the various challenge cups and pnzes won at the recent tournament. Major Fo?" the ChIef of the London Salvage Corps, presided, baying the support of the Chairman of the Association (Chief Officer W. J. Church Brasier), the Rev. S. W. Wood (:'ector of St. John's, Clerkenwell), Mr. Stapley, "l\{lller (Ley ton), Chief Superintendent i\10rgan, upenntendent G. S. Elliston (St. John Ambulance Trimmer, Messrs. A. T. Dale, Illward, Captall1 Cleaver, Captain B. Richard Isaac (Liverpool), eTC.

neck referred to in t}le Egyptian engine, because, at this tIme, hose was not lllvented History does not relale whether this l-r:achine which is shown fitted on a sleigh, was fitt.ed WIth a wbeel carriage to be used at other 111 tl:e year when snow was not on the ground. hg. IS a fire-engine which belonged to the city of 111 1739 · The conc;tructor's name at the date of ItS concepti.on is. not deflnitely known, but is supposed to have been In nearly a hundred years before this date, so that lIttle or no advancement had. been made in the construct ion of fire-engines prior to its exislancc.

pumping handles In facl, some of tbese old were provided with separate tredals for the 1 hiS IS the type of engine described by Dickens, as. bell1g taken to fire under the auspices of the pansh beadle, whIch important functionary usually had of the appliances, except for the occasional call or VISIt of the pansh plumber to repair the machine, which was allowed to get out of order and failed to work when

Di kens says, when tIle alarm of fire was g Iven, the engine was taken care of by the crowel, the corpulent

The programme was a lengthy one. Among !he various items special mention must be made of the of the Bijou Orchestra, conducted by Glanvllle. The Holborn Glee Singers, whose smgll1g was much appreciated, as also was that ?f Mr. J;31anchard. The clever impersonations of the vanous denIzens of .the farmyard by l\fr. Syd Lochlyne caused much as also did the singing of the" Salvage by Bishop in character. N or must the Sll1gll1g. of Barrington be passed over. This lady sang With feelmg and effecl. A pleasing turn was the performance on the bagpipes by Corporal Cowan, Guards: Mr. Stapley, ee, the pnzes, a few remarks which were chIefly eulogistIc of the "\.ssoclallon and Private Fire Brigades. The had beel:, he thought, a remarkable success, due chiefly to the enthuSlasm of the Private Fire Brigades Of the value of the latter, he thought, there was no question. A Brigade that was on the spot when a broke out could often rend.ered service than an effiCIent regular Bngade ten 111111ytes a"a), because it was generally the first five or ten 111111utes that

FIG. 5.

FIG.

FIG 7.

FIG. 8.

decided the character of a fire. As citizens they were proud of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, but at the same time they had had proofs of the advantage of having organised and well-trained Private Fire Brigades on the spot, ever on the alert and ready for emergencies. These Brigades vied with one another as to which should carry out the drills in the smartest manner, and, he thought, it was a laudable desire on their part to excel. Theirs was the right sort of competition, as it carried with it no i11feeling of one Brigade against another. And in their competitions there was so little difference between the several ttams, that those who failed to get prizes had no cause to be disheartened. He only wished they could give all the competitors prizes as they deserved. They must not, however, regard these contests solely from the point of view of the material advantages gained in the shape of prizes, nor desire only the decoration which they hoped to get from the Corporation in the days to come. They must look als.o at the advantage gained by the training involved. The qUIckness, sureness, and ease of movement obtained all helped to make more efficient firemen of them, and also assistants. In his remarks, Mr. Stapley saId, he had on.': more pleasll1g duty and that was to present 11r. Church Bra,sier, two minatures of St. John DecoratIOns, and to Mrs. Church Brasier a Jurse's satchel. These gifts, he said, were presented by the members to show the esteem and regard in which the Chairman of the Association and his wife were held by the members of the Association over which Mr. Church Brasier so ably presided.

Major Fox, who was called upon for a speech, told the members o.f the help they might give, and in some instances -notably It1 the case ;\1essrs. Copestake's Brigade at the Bread-street .fire-had gIven to the Salvage Corps, in their work of savmg property at London fires, when they were often short-handed. He was not a Fireman, he addedonly a Salvage man- but he took a great interest in the welfare of the Private Fire Brigades' Association, and was very pleased to support them by taking the chair at their It was also a double pleasure to him to be there to w?tness the presentation to his old friend Mr. Church B.rasler, he was glad to see that they had recognised hIS sterlIng worth by those gifts, which he was sure would always be valued as a mark of the kindly feeling which prompted the recognition.

Chief Officer Brasier, on rising to reply, met wlt.h a regular ovatIOn-the audience singing "For he's a a Jo!ly good fello,,:." In a few well-chosen words Mr. BraSIer expressed hIS thanks for this further mark of their confidence expressed the hope that he miaht be connected Wlth the Association for many years. The concert then p,roceeded, a vote of thanks to the artists subsequently bell1g proposed by the chairman.

Provincial Fire Brigades.

BOURNEl\10UTH.-Lieut. Lane, the second officer and hon. secretary of the. Bournemouth Fire Brigade, has been chosen ChlerOfficer It1 the place of the late CapLain Worth. Mr. S. G. "ltcomb takes the position of econd Officer' Mr. C. R. Welch, Third Officer. Fireman Field will undertake the secretarial duties.

BRIT?GE.-.-The annual dinner in connection with the Bndge Flre Bngade, was held at the Red Lion on March 25 th . A most enjoyable time was spent, up-

AI D.- April, 19°2. wards of fifty present. A capital spread was provided by Host Anderson. Mr. H. Blunt presided.

CA IBORNE.-Lieut. -Weeks has been elected Captain of the Cam borne Fire Brigade, and Mr. J en ki n as lieutenant and hon. secretary.

EASTROURNE.-The fourth annual report presented to the -Watch Committee of the Eastbourne Town Council by Capt. J. A. Hounsom, deals with twelve months ending Decem ber 31St last.

The num b.er of for fires received during the year :vas JI1cludll1g explosion at St. Cyprian's, all bemg wlthll1 the borough. There were also two false alarms and two calls for chimney fires, thus bringing the total number for the year to twenty-one. This is a decrease of twelve compared with those of 19oo. In one of these the damage amounted to over £J,700; one £350, one £300, one £ 200, one £150, and two ;£ 90, tIle others resulting in slight damage only.

LAMDOURN. - Mr. Nelson Alexander has been chosen Ch.ief of this Brigade in the place of Mr. J. S. Gnffin, reSIgned. The Parish Council has undertaken to the payment of all expenses incurred in connectlOn wlth the office.

LEYTON.-The annual concert in aid of the funds of the Ley ton and Leytonstone Fire Brigade took place at the Town Hall. on evening, March 20th, with much success. Everyone lS agreed that the T-3ri a ade which is voluntarily doing a splendid work in the di;trict' deserves support, and by their presence on Thursday crowded audIence. testified their practical sympathy.

D.unng the. evening the prizes won by the mem bers of the Bngade dUrIng the year were presented by Mrs. Atkins, who was supported by Mr. W. Atkins (Chairman of the District Council), who made a short speech.

MARCH.-The Hon. A. Brand, M.P., has agall1 promised to become an honorary member of the 1Jarch General Secretary of the National Fae Ul1lon has informed the secretary that the March Bngade has been removed from the Eastern District to the District, which will be an advantage to them 111 competItIOns, as March is in the centre of the district. It may also be an inducement at some future date to hold a competition at March for this district.

WOKING. -LThe balance sheet of the Wokmg Fire Brigade, audited by Mr. W. R. keet and Mr. J. 'IV. Grantham, has just been issued.

The accounts show receipts up to the end of 190T of £57 9S 4d., m.ade up of balance in bank £43 25. 4d. and sale of dll1ner £ J 4 7s. The expenditure comprises £3 0 I3 s 6d. [or bngade expenses, such as subscription to N.F.B:U., an2?ulance lectures, conveyances, horses, &c., hreman G. Bigwood, Basingstoke competition, bngade outll1g, and to injured fireman, and £26 I IS. l.od. the outlay III with the public dinner 111 December, whIch proved so great a success; lea,,ll1g a balance of 4S. Since then, however the entertainat Public Hall has taken The sale of tickets realIsed £52 19s. Sd., and donations brought in another £7 3S. 6d. The expenses of the entertainment amounted to £27 5s. 1 d., and the sum now in hand is £33 2S. Td.

April, T 902. -FIRST

Correspondence.

Re REVIEW OF "EPITOME ON FIRST AID AND NURSING."

To tlte Editor of FIRST AID.

-

SIR, -If, as you seem to think, there is no raison d'eire for the above then, of course, there is none for the plates. These, and espeCIally the one you mention, " :'I1y punishment is greater than I can bear," were chosen as exercises on the position of the main arteries. If you had, before reviewing the book, read it, you would have learnt this from question 12 on page 13. I am glad to have your remark on the defini tion of a fracture. I n order to be absolutely correct, the word "length" should, perhaps, be replaced with a word of five syllables. Members of most First Aid Classes have no appreciation of long words-at least, such is my experience.

I cannot give full expression to my surprise, not to say indignation, that in your review you have, with extraordinary liberty, lifted two or three sentences out of their context in the book in order to give a totally different construction to them than the text shows.

Brief and bald, as the Epitome intentionally is, its only object is to assist the pupil to call to mind what he has learnt from his lectures and his text books. That it was not intended as a text book, I should have thought, was clearly enough expressed in the preface, -I am, yours truly, A. W. HINSLEY WALKER. Argyle House, 100, Station-parade, Harrogate, April 14th, 1902.

Re FIRST AID POCKET OUTFIT. Tv tlte Editor of FIRST AID.

DEAR SIR,-Replying to your correspondent, S. Lloyd Harvey, in March issue of FIRST AID, the "Pocket Accident Outfit" is already a well-circulated and useful article in some parts of the country, and for the benefit of your readers allow me to say that it is sold by Messrs. Thompson and Capper, chemists, 39, Deansgate, Manchester; 55, Bold-street, Liverdool; Huddersfield, Southport and.Sheffield, at IS. 6d. each, and is composed of a small oblong tin case measuring 4 in. by 3 in. and 1 in. deep, containing small quantities of lint, cotton wool, roller bandage, t in. plaster, court plaster (cut in sizes), safety pins, calendula cerate and burn ointment (in small round tins), calendula liniment and tinctures of arnica and ledium in small bottles. think this would meet with your correspondents ideas.

If the articles named above are a little bit foreign to an ordinary first aid man, there is no reason why a few first-aiders should not club together and fit up such like articles for themselves in the following manner :-

Procure similar tin boxes to the above, having held tobacco (these can be seen in any tobacconists' shop and probably coulcl. be begged from friends who may use such), buy flom the chemists and divide into small quantities: Salvolatile, Condy's fluid or potass. permanganate, Friar's balsam, small bottles (to fit the boxes) with rubber corks, adhesive plaster, roller bandages, boracic lint and wool, safety pins, rubber rings, small hank of thread, &c.

Either of these ",ill be found to be compact and not at all cumbersome, but, of course, only take small quantities.

'With apologies for troubling you, but in hope that this may be found of some use to your readers,-I am, dear Sir, yours truly,

GEO. DARWIN.

A I D.- 95

I twill, ther.e doubt, be a great boon to all Brigade men as well as mdlvldual first aid workers. I should like to or two things which Mr. Harvey might have placed m the lIst of contents for sllch a pocket outfit, i.e., a small glass tube contammg, say, two doses of sal. vol., and another for a small quantIty of eucalyptus, not forgetting a few safety pins.

Lawkholme-crescent, Keighley, March 29th, 1902.

To tlte Edilor of FIRST AID.

SlR, May I encroach upon your valuable space with reference to Mr. S. Lloyd Harvey's letter in your March issue.

I am glad to see such a proposition put before Firstaiders in general with regard to a pocket outfit for their use. No doubt, as my friend suggests, some large firm (makers of ambulance materials, &c.) will gladly push a thing of this sort forward and shortly have it in the market.

W,ishing you every success in your new departure,- - I am dear SIr, yours very truly, 22, Annandale-road, Chiswick. 29th March, 1902.

HORACE W. COTTON. )l" O. 14 Division.

THE MILITAR[SAT[ON OF THE ST. JOTT0J CEo

To tlte Hditor of FIRST AID.

STR,-\Vith your permission I should like to call attention to the above, which, I think, will be of interest to your readers. For! although the not been .going on for any length of tIme, when the vanous httle alteratIons and additions that haye been made pieced together it is surprising to see how near we are to bell1g actually a military unit. The method emplo)'ed has been quiet and stealthy, and to tbe war must be attn buted the presen t success (?) of the movement, which virtu ally means c?mplete over to the military authorities of our organIsatIOn and brIgade.

The steps accomplished at present are (a) the establishof a l.esser grade of N.C.O., (b) the smartening of the BrIgade ul1lform, and ( c) the foundation of Bearer Companies to act with the Army Divisions.

Little at present can be said of the creation of corporals, as they have not been long eXIstent, save that they have been far from producti ve of good up till now. The fact is that men who have been doing duty regularly each week now conspicuously and persistently absent. It is only those with an official and, therefore, superficial knowledge, that can attribute this state of thi ngs to jealousy.

It should be borne in mind that the minor ::\T.e.0. is simply capable of drilling a stretcher squad and is not of necessity the first-aider of his di\ ision. A position which formerly reqUIred three men, under the new arrangement should have two men and a corporal. But St. John men are not used to subjecting themseh'es to the une\'en temperament and pettishness of minor .e.O. s. Consequently, rather than place themselves in such an unenviable position. they don turn out.

I t does not require an exceptionally clear vision to see that in prO\'iding a lower grade of I .e.0. than previously existed that the Brigade is being reduced to the Army standard. But if this kind of inovation is to be persisted in, the probability is that the DIvisions will, in the future, be made up of a very different class of men.

As I am afraid that I should be intruding too much upon your space, I propose to deal with the other two subjects in a succeeding issue.

Thanking YOLI for your courtesy, I beg to remain, yours faithfully, S. L. A. B.

HONOUR TO WHOi\1 HO l OUR IS DUE.

To Ille Editor of FIRST AID.

SIR, - Doubtless the Coronation ceremony will be the occasion of a distribution of honours to those \\"ho have rendered service dilectly or indirectly in connection with the South African \Val'. So far as the interests represented by this Journal are concerned, it is indeed desirable that the ad\'isers of his Majesty the King should not lose sight of those \\'ho have been the actual workers in contradistinction to those who have been the" figure heads." The St. John Ambulance Association and the Ambulance Department of the l\ational Fire Brigades Union have both supplied \'aluable units in this campaign, but we J1ll:lch .rear thc:t n:en who ha\'e rendered the actual servIce wIll, 111 the dlstnbutlon of honours, be really ignored in favour of those who cannot be otherwise distinguished than as "figure heads." I n the 1 avy and the services generally, figure heads have been not only as unnecessary but as useless and absurd decoratIons.

-F I RS T

The same applies to the Ambulance Service genera ll y in this country The advisers of the King should be careful in only recommending thosc who haye really done the work.

On a future occasion wc shall havc something to say anent "Agure heads" and workers, for we belie\'c "honour shou ld be given to whom honour is due," and not to mere ciphersYours faithfully,

]-',\L\J.DI QUI MERUIT FERAT April J 7th, J 902.

THE PROPOSED FIRE BRIGADES REV I EW AT WINDSOR.

To the Editor of F IRST AID.

SIR,-You ask me for some news as to the proposed Coronation Fire Brigades Review.

I regret to say there is nothing' definite to report, all I can say is that a Fire Brigades' Review is included in the prog-ramme of the Coronation festi\'ities inaugurated by thc town and neighbourhood of \ \ 'indsor, which is now a \\'aiting his Majesty's pleasure

I f a Rel ' iew is sanctioned, it will take place. If the 'WindSOl' Executive decide to hand it m er to the T F. D. U. to cany out under certain conditions, and the Union accepts, we shall render every assistance .

If the Windsor Executive decides that it sha ll be held under diffin.'ll t mallagement to the onc held in the Diamond Jubilee Year, it will takc place under different ancl we shall do our best to make it a success.

1 hope the above will be clear to eyerybody.-Faithfully yours,

T. G. DYSON, Vice-Chairman Festi\'ities Committte, C.O. V.F.B Apri l, 16th, 1902.

COUPON TICKET

The Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, LIMITED, 40,

42, & 44,

MOORGATE STl1EET , LONDON, E

C. (to whom Notice or C laims, unde r t h e fo ll owing conditions must he sent within seven clays of accident to the abm'e acldres )

£100

will be paid b\' the ahove Co r poration to the lega l rep resentati\'e of anyone who is ki led by an accident to the Passenger Train (w ith i n the Un ited Kingdom or Channe l I slands), in which the deceased wa a ticket bearing or paying passenger, or who sha ll l have been fata lly injured thereby (shou ld death resu within ninety days after such accident).

J H.O \ 7I DED that the person so killed or inju red had upon his or her person or had lert at home this cket, with his, or her, usua signatu re, written p rior to the accident, on the space prov ded below, which, together with the giving of notice within the time as here in· hefore mentioned, is the essence or this contract.

This insurance holds good for current issue on y, and ca rr ies the benefits of and is subject to, the conditions of the "OCEAr\ ACCIDENT AND GUARANTEE Limited, Act, J890," Risks Kos 2 and 3

The Corporation admit that the purchase or this Paper is the payment of a premiulll under Section 34 of the Act. ?\o person can recover under more than one Coupon ticket in respect of the same risk.

SI>{lIal /{re ,

WANTED, an Officer's Great Coat, S. J .A.B.

The Independent Journal for the Ambulance and Fire Services.

IMPORTANT

IMPORTANT

IT having come under the notice of the proprietors of "First =Aid" that no provision will be made for the billett = ing or accommodation of the pro v incial officers or nursing sisters who may be detailed for duty in London during the Coronation ceremonies, they ha v e decided to adver = ti s e in the lo cal press within the neighbourhood of St. John's Gate for rooms and other accommodation for any members who may be selected for duty on this occa s ion. Selected v olunteers for this duty are invited to register their names and requirements at this office, but it must be distinctly understood that while every care will be exercised in the selection of rooms, the proprietors undertake no further res ponsibility otherwise than that of placin g applicants in communication with those who have room s to let. All letters for thi s depart= ment s hould be marked" CORONATION," and addre s sed to Messrs. Dale and Reynold s "First=Aid" Office s, 46, Cannon =street, London, E.C

TERMS OF SUBSCR I PTION

For 12 months, IS. 6c1 , post free, to be sent to the Publishers, :\lessrs Dale, Reynolds and Co., 46, Cannon·street, London, E. C. Tclegrapllic .rlddress- CC TwelltYJollr, London " Te!epllone llo.-,</-77 Balli:.

Brevities.

FIRE ENGINES.

MOTOR

I N view o f the p r obab il i y of the N. F . B . U. Ambulance D epar tm en t a n d Staff Corps taki n g part and officially suppo r t ing the Army a n d Vol u nteer T\{ed ical Staff Corps d ur ing t he Co r on atio n festivit ies, it is b u t o n ly r ight to men ti o n t hat the firm. of Messrs J. and A. Carter, surgical e n g inee r s, o f N ew Cavendish-s tr eet, readi ly and vo l untarily p lace a t the dis p osal o f the Departmen t of the Unio n wh atever app lia n ces, if a n y, wh ic h m ight be requ ir ed It is very grat ify in g to witness su ch a li beral offer fr om one of t h e l eadi n g firms in L ondo n for a cau se whi c h certainly appea ls t o t h e sympa hy o f one and all

T Im L ife Savi ng Soc iety, the obj ect of which s to promo t e in s t r u c io n a n d competitio n in swi mmi ng and life savin g, ap pea rs t o h a ve h ad a vcry busy yea r , acco r di n g t o

its ann u al report just issued There has been an increase of 60 pu cen t. in the number of candidates who have passed the tests for t he r escue of those in danger of drowning, and a total increase of 777 in the number of awards medals, certificates, &c One of its two diplomas has this year awarded to a lady, T\Irs Emma Lottie Vautie r. The test for this award is said to be an extremely severe one The n u mber who have passed the proficiency tests and been awarded certificates or medallions has reached 10,20 5. The Prince of 'Wales has presented a silver cup for this year's International Amateur Championship competition, which will be held at the Coronation Gala, at Highgate, on 28th June.

THE following extract from the report of the Life Saving Society is a comment on the mischief which is being done by t he "Cockertonising" of the Evening Co n tinuation Schools :-" I n connection with the work of the Evening Continuation Schools, where the aims and objects of the Society have hitherto been so admirably carried out, the Executive regret to state that, under the restrictions imposed by the Education Act of last year, swimming and ife saving is not now generally recognised as a subject of instruction. I n view of the fact that the operation of the the Act ceases at the end of next J uly, they consider it necessary that steps be taken to bring before the Education Department the supreme importance of the subject, and to urge that C First Aid in the Water' be placed on the same basis as C First Aid upon Land,' in order to minimise as much as possible the loss of life that occurs annually through bathing, boating and similar accidents."

***

T HE evidence so far gi " en at the enquiry into the Barbican fire is yery contradictory; Commander W ells thought the water supply s u fficient and that the 3+9 officer s and men were sufficient to deal with this conflagat ion One e ngine went wrong and it seems that one hose leaked up to a second floor. The difficulty of always h aving full steam o n an engine is being studied by the C. 0., a n d he is n ow mak ing experiments with o il which, he hoped, wo uld e nab le him to stand with a n "effectiye head of s t eam "

A o'oocl cc stop" was effected this month by the aid of the system installed inthe Town H.all, lIford, where negligent workmen had left a big coke fire 111 thc basemen.t. C O Voollard and his men are to be congratulated on their promptness in staying th is .firc w!th sand water, and, jointly wit h the ala r m systcm, S3,\' Il1 g- thiS nc\\' buIlding.

Ou r P or t rait G aller y . }'11SS IDA HA;\I1LTO T.

THE young lady whose portrait gra.ces our Ambulance Gallery this month made her first public appearance at the recent pres e ntation of prizes to the ambulance men of the Great Eastern Railway at the Ley ton Town Hall, when, under the auspices of her father, the chairman of the C0111-

AI D.- 1902.

which has proved of such advantage, not only to the employes but to tbe travelling public at large.

Railway Ambulance.

BIRl\I1NGHA;\T. - The annual smoking concert of the Central Station Division Birmingham Corps St. John Ambulance Brigade was beld on Saturday, j\ pril f9th, at the Wacron and Horse Hotel, Summer-row, Mr. B. H presiding. The chairman presen.ted .the badges to the mem bers who passed the rec e nt ]). J. H Blakeney was presented with a silver cIgar case m recocrnition of his , aluable services to the new class, and Mr. oJ. Gardner (bon secretary) was presente<;l with a meerschaum pip e as a token of respect from the members of the division.

ABERDEEN .-If numbers go for anything, the cause of first aid received a creditabl e stimulus in Aberdeen on Saturday evening, April, 19th, when upwar?s of 9o;ail,,:aymen attended the smokmg concert held m the .\\ avedey Hotel, for the presentation of certificates, medallions, and prizes gained by the ambulance class by Dr. Howie this winter. II'. Charles SmIth, dlstnct superintendent, presided. During the ev e ning Mr. Benson presented in the name of the class, Dr. HOWle, the lecturer, with a'beautiful Oxford edition of Dicken's works, in 17 volumes, which Dr. Howie suitably acknowledged. Mr. Bannochie, as captain of the Am bulance Corps, then presented Mr. Gold, drill instructor, with three silver-mounted flower vases, for \vhich the recipient suitably returned thanks

May, I902 -FIRST

St. John Ambulanc e Bri g ad e CORPS.

TOTTE HAl\! AND HAl\IPSTE,\D H. , \ILW.\\' DI\' r. IOC\".-

The sixth annual concert in with this division was held at Harringay Park on April 23rd, when a most enjoyable evening was spent, the concert being again under the ma n agement of Sergt. I V. Darrell.

Dur i ng the evening the Rev. Saunders-Lloyd presented on behalf of the members a silver-mounteu umbrella to Hon Sergt. Dr H. Murray, and certificates to the members of a recent First Aid class, also medallions to several members of the Division,

AI D99

On Sunday, 0 Iay 4th, the annual Church Parade took place to " halley Church. There was a good mllst e r - about sey e nty m e n-Chief-Superintenuent Ogd e n was in command.

On Saturday, May roth, about forty men took part in a sham·fight with the G and H Companies, East Lan cashire Volunteer Regiment, on Moleside Hill. The m e n gained considerable experience in first-aiel practice and also in carrying the wounded off the field under fire. The men \vere afterwards complimented by Captain Sharples for the smart \Yay in which th e y carried out their duties, and WCT e afterwards entertained to a tea and smoking-concert at the Yolunteer Drill Hall.

T. H. Woolston, accompanied by Chief-Supt. Fred Gilbert, Supt.-S e c.

pany (Lord Claud e Hamilton) she distributed the pnzes which had be e n wo n during the 1902 competitions.

The Hall, which was densely packed with employes of the comp:ll1y and th e ir friends, awarded her a welcome which proved how tboroughly the railway men appreciated h e r visit, and must have been gratifying to Lord Claude Hamilton, who tak e s so warm an interest in everything whicb appertains to the advancement and welfare of the employes of the company over which he so ably presides. Indeed, his words when returning thanks for the vote which had been accorded to his daughter for attending that evening and presenting the prizes prove d this, his lordship said, "Speaking as her fatber, he felt more than ordinary pleasure at her pres ence, because this was the first pu blic duty she had ever p erformed, and he hoped if sh e was spared to perform many duties of a somewhat analogous character that she would always recollect tbe first occasion on which she appeared in tbat capa c ity was to present prizes to mem bel'S of an association which existed for th e benefit of suffering humanity." These are words which will appeal to all our readers, and doubtless when reading of the terrible disaster which occurred only a few days later on the Great Eastern Railway, Miss Hamilton would appreciate and value more fully the sentiments whicb were so eloquently expressed on tbat occasion.

In conclu s ion, we venture to express the hope that not only may his lordship's wish be gratified, but may he live to the of our sketch taking the same active and kmdly 111terest in all that appertains to the welfare of employes of the Great Eastern Railway, as has been eVll1ced by Lord and Lady Hamilton since his hrdsh ip's fl rst connection with the line, a connection

RHVMNEY. - On Saturday, April I9th, a dinner in connection with the Rhymney Railway Ambul::t.nce Class took place at Culley'S dining-rooms, Queen-str e et, Cardiff, IVJr. Arthur Prosser presiding. Presentations were made to Dr. J. J. E. Biggs, surgeon instructor, Mr. G. Clark, t.he class instructor, and Mr. D. Jones, secretD:ry, and certdlcates were presented to the successful candIdates.

CRIFF.-On Wednesday night, April 30th, at a meeting of Criff Station Am bulance Corps il: connection with the Caledonian Railway Ambulance Bngade, held at the station, a very interesting function took when Dr. Haig was presented with a handsome SIlver-mounted fountain pen in recognition his ?-s to the corps during the past session. Mr. William MOrrIson, stationmaster, who presid e d, made the presentation. Dr. Haig suitably acknowledgeel the gift.

LOSTWlTHIEL.-At the railway station on Tuesday evening, April 29th, certificates were to the bel'S of Lostwithiel Railway Ambulance Class 111 connectlOn with St. John Arnbulance Association, In presenting the certificates the Mayor (Mr. J. A. Beswarick) expressed the pleasure it gave him to present the certificates It must, he said, be a source of satisfaction to the number of people who habitually travel by the Great Western Railway when they know that at nearly every station were 10 be members of the St. John Ambulance class, so that If an accident should occur they would be carefully, tenderly, and skilfully handled. A presentation walking stick was a lso h anded to Dr. Milner, who had lectured to t he clas::j ,

TlIE 1902 I\'IN:-l"ERS OF THE Il'lTER-RAILW,\Y CO;\IPETlTIO:-l" FOR THE RAILW \Y SHIELD.

THE lIETROPOLITA , R 'l.IL\VAY TE.ur. BLACKPOOL. - There has just be e n handed o\,er to the Chief Con table, J. c. Derham, a massiye sil\'er cup, weighing 132 ozs., and stand-

THL ANNUAL COl\IPETITIOK FOR THE RAILWAY SHIELD J. R. Stamp and Supt.-Treasure r J. H. Rogers, ins p ected A D nn DEw.\R SHmT.D A:-l"D ECCLES Cl:p.-The annual the Birmingham Corps of the t. John i\mbulance Brigade competition by representatives of railway companies and at the IIeadquarters, Queen's College, on I2th. Tbe the St. John Ambulance Brigade in fmt aiel to the injured men, to the number of sixty, paraded in the quadrangle, was held on Friday, May and were drilled by their 9 th, at the Po rtman -room s, 1I.liiiiiiil•••iifP•• ins truc tor, Sergt. E. II way. Baker-street, W. The Mar- At the close the" \sst.-Comq uis of Breadalbane presided, mission er expressed his entire and shields and prizes were satisfaction with the manner aftenvards presented to the in which the drill had been successful teams by Lady carried out, and said he Parker. The rail \Va y chal- trusted, no\\' that the Corps lenge shield was awarded to had been fairly established, the Metropolitan Railway the men would make themteam, prizes being also given selves so efficient that they in the follow111g order: - would become the smartest Metropolitan, 264 points; in the H e added that the only re q uirement North-Eastern, 228 points; necessary to enable them to South-Eastern and Chatham, perform dutIes 111 206 points; lVrersey, 200 the streets at th e Coronation points; London and South- festiyities, in the City of BirWestern, r85 points. Badges mingham, was the Brigade of merit wel'e given to the uniform. London and North-Western, Great Central, Great Eastern, IIidland, and Gt Nurthern teams. In the St. John Ambulance Brigade the Dewar shield was awarded to the IVellingborough Corps, and

the Symons-Eccles cup to the Brierfield Corps. Prizes were also given to the corps from Wellingborough, Brierfield, East Ham, Ramsgate and Derby. In congratulating tIle several successful teams Sir John } urley said that the association had sent out over 2,000 men in the present war in South Africa, and he could testify by what he had himself seen as to the thoroughly successful work they had done in aiding the wounded at the front. Sir Yincent Kennett Barrington in proposing a vote of thanks to the judges and officials paid a well merited mede of praise to Mr. W R. Edwards, Accountant to the Association, for his work in connection with the Railway Competition

PROVINCIAL CORPS .

ACCRINGTON -On Friday, April 18th, Chief-Supt. Ogelen presented Sergt. Gordon and Pte. 'Warburton with silver-mounted pipes and cases, subscribed for by a squact of men belonging to the and Yorkshire Rail\\'a)' Company in regconition of their services for teaching the me n squad drill, &c.

ing over 3 ft. high, the donors being the Meat Co., throucrh their J3lackl)ool manarre r, 1\1r. Harnson, of Lytham- ° ° l'h road, whose wife is an ardent am bulance e cup has to be competed for at Blackpool IJ1 the montl:s of June, July, or .\ugust by ambul?-nce dlVlSJOns or IJ1 the Nos ..j., 5 and 6 districts, whIch em brace LancashIre, Yorkshire Cheshire Nottinaham, Cumberland, \\Testmoreland the' Isle of and Ireland The cup has to be \\'I)n three times in succession before it becomes absolute property of the ':' inner. The "alue the IS £. Around tIle ebony plmth there are 2..j. slh er shIelds fOI the names of the prospecti\'e winners.

BOUGITTON.-On Ionday, !\Iay 5th, the sixth annual dinner of the ])i\'ision of the Brigade was held .at the Headquarters, the Olel 1\IiS5ion Room. The chmr taken by J k Scatchard, who was by l< II' OCficer "\ T. Castle, !\Ir. .\. II Flammer, &c.; Officer C. W . Smith being in the yice-chair. .\ capltal spread was put on by 1\1r. Hoare, of the George H?t!=l. The cloth being rel11m ed, the rest of the c\'el1lng was glye n

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over to toasting and harmony, the music being supplied by Messrs. Coombs, Brown and Last.

CRQ;\IER - On Tuesday evening, May 6th, by the invitation of Dr. H. C. D ent, the honorary.surgeon, the m emb ers of the Cromer Division met for dU1I1 er and a social gathering at the Albion Hotel. Supt. F. H. Barclay presided. and about twenty persons were present. At the conclusion of an excellent repast, served by Host Sillwood, a time was spent. The loyal and patriotic toasts havmg b ee n duly honoured, Pte. W. Springall gave" the Hon. Surgeon and Office rs."

Dr. Dent, in response, the DIVISIOr: on their success in winning the cup at IpswICh on the prevIOus Saturday T "

First Officer F. J Emms gaye "the Wmmng eam. Sergt. H . Balls suitably replied.

Mr. A. E. Salter proposed "Success to the Division," coupled with the n a me of Supt. F. H. Barclay Supt. Barclay, in the pleasure it gav p him to be associated th e and co ngra tulated the winning team on then success m their initial contest.

During the even ing the following contributed to th e programme :-Sergt. H. Balls, Pte.. R. Rose, Pte. M. Nockels, Corp. Love, Pte R. Bone, FIrSt qffi.cer Emms and Pte. W. K emp-the last nam e d also asslstmg as accompanist.

GATESHEAD FELL.-The death is announced of Mr. John Adolphus H a rriso n, of the firm of Adolphus Harrison and Co., Quayside, N ewcas tle. Th e d eceased had been 111 a n ailing state of h ealth for some time, and passed away at Lbis residence, Low Fell, in his 59 th year. For m any years h e took special interest in am bulance classes and in th e St. John Ambulance Brigade, occupying the position of Superintendent of tbe G a tesliead Fell Division. Possessing a genial temp erament, he made a la rg e circle of fri en ds, who held him in the high es t estee m, and h e will be greatly missed in T ynesid e. A ponrait of Mr. Harrison ap p ea red in the O c tober iss ue of 1900.

NEWTON ABBoT.-There we re committed to th e gro u nd in Wolborou g h Churchyard, Je wton Abbot, on May 13th, th e mortal r e mains of Mr. William Dunn, who died th e p rev ious Saturday. D ecease d, previous to settlina- down in business at Newton Abbo t- where he was a tradesman, amassing a large sum of moneywas an itin erant scissors grinder. A service was h eld in the U nitari ftn Chapel. The remains were conveyed to th e churchyard by members of th e Newton Abbot Divi sion, which was und er tbe command of Dr. Grimbly, h on surgeon, and Superintendent Jew ell. Deceased presen ted the Divi sion, not long ago, with a complete Ambulance outfit. The interment was witness ed by a larg e numb er of people.

PORT SMOUTH NURSING DIVI SION . - The nursing sisters of thi s division sent away in the month of January, a large box of us e ful clothing for distribut io n amongst th e men of th e 2nd Hampshire R egiment on service in South Africa. Th e lady superintendent (Miss Kate Sangster) has just rece ived from Li eut.-Col. H. W. Smith, commanding 2nd H amps hire Regiment, a letter in which he desires on b ehalf of all ran ks of the regiment, to thank the nursing sisters for the box of clothing, which arrived safely and was very much appreciated.

AID.

Presentation of South African War Medals.

ACCRINGTON , - The medals to the members of the Accrington Corps who have seen servic e .in South Africa were presented on Apnl, 29th, at Oak Hill by the Mayoress of Aecrington (Mrs James CunlIffe). Unfortunately the inclement state of the weather marred the complete success of th e gathering . A number of the inhabitants however braved the elements In order to show their of th e men who had risk ed their lives for King and country After a few remarks from the Mayor, the Mayoress pr ese nted th e medals, which she gracefully pinned on the tunics of the men as they stepped forward one by one. She afterwards addressed a few words to th e company. " Those am bulance. men," she said, ",:ho had been out to South Afri ::a to reheve as far as pOSSIble the sufferings of the soldiers had earned their She-; was glad their efforts had been rec?gmsed ?fficJal quarters, and that they had shown th en appreCIatIOn of them by sending down those medals; but she was sure the men thems e lves would find their rich es t reward and their greatest satisfaction in the consciousn ess they had don e their duty She hop ed they would all .lIve long to wear those medals and do other good work 111 th e world, and that those who came after them mi g ht profit by their good example and be stimulated and encouraged to do th eir duty for the benefit of their fellowm e n. "

Li e ut.-Col. Sandeman called for thre e cheers for th e Am bulanc e m en, which were give with great heartiness.

A vote of thanks to the M ay or and Mayoress was mov ed and carried with c h ee rs.

Subsequently th e Volunteers and Ambulance Corps were entertained to tea by th e Mayor and Mayoress at the Central Conservative ·Club, and was follow ed by a smoking concert.

BLA cKPooL . - W e tak e the following from the B!a ckpool Tt"m es: Though not breaking out ?pen fl :=t me, it appears that a smouldering fire of Opll1IOn has had to be extinguished by th e authontles In control th e Blackpo ol Division of th e St. John Ambulance Bnga de. Th e ou tbr eak which was, to say th e least, unfortun a te ha d its origin in th e preliminaries of public presentation It appears that a certam spmts, among th e m embers who hav e bee n on. servIce. 111. Africa wanted to a pp ea r b e fore the publIc on day in the khaki uniform. Th e matte r was laId ? efore their superiors, and after inquiries had b ee n It was found that th e ordinary home service- the familIar black and white-uniform was to be recognis ed as th e order of the day. This did not suit th e special tast es of the partisans, and so me liltl .e unpl easantness follow e d. Dlscipline, how eve r, was enf?rced, .and the. m en stepped up to receive their decorations m ordmary umform. Th e matter, which has led to the withdrawal of at least one member, IS to be regretted The Blackpool Division has such a record and reputation for s martness and loyalty, personal fe eling ought never Lo have been thought of 111 s uch an The receiving and owning of the medals an? th e badges was a distinction which ordinary u111for111. or no um form could not tarnish in the leas t.

BOLTON - TherE. was a crowded ass e m bly in the spacions Artill ery Drill on Saturday, May 3rd, on the occasion of th e pre se ntatlon of tile South Afnca n medal to

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May, 1902. - FIRST

120 me n of the corps who have return ed from active service. One hundr ed and thirty-nine men from this corps have b ee n accepted for service, and nineteen are s till out in South Africa or at Netley Hospital.

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The proceedings were presid ed over by C ol. G Hesk e th, V.D., J.p., and Lieut. -Co l. C. J. Trimble, V.D., Deputy-Commi ss ioner of th e N O.4 district, presented th e medals tn the m en. Kindl y word ed let ters of apology for absen ce were r eceiv ed from Col. C. W B. Bowdler, Chief Commissioner of th e Brigade; Col. Sir H. C. Perrott, Bart., Brigad e Chief Superintendent W. J. Church Bras ier, and many others Th ere was an influ e ntial company on the platform, including many officers of the lo cal corps, and th e band of the L oyal North Lan cashI re RegIme nt played a choi ce of music.

Col. Trim ble rece Lv ed a war m welcome on nS1l1g to present th e medals, and he had an en.couraging word for eve ry r ec ipi ent, and was very sympathetIC towards th e relatives of th e late Privates Birtwi stl e and W. Dixon, who died on service a nd th e widow of th e lat e Pri,ate J esse Kay who died soon after his return fro m the front. At t he 'c oncl usion of the medal distri buti on Col. Trimbl e's address was attentively list e n ed to and much appr eciated

Chief Superintendent F I,omax, in proposing a vote of thanks to Co l. Trimble, took the opportunity of thanking the whole of the brigade staff for th eir kindn ess, and he also publicly thanked Col. H. E. V.D., for providin g the co rp s with permanent headquarters. Honorary Surgeons J. Hi lto n Thompson and J J o hnston also a ddr essed the m eeting

It may be adde d that th e Bolton Corps possesses the dis tin ction of h av in g raised the first of the Brigade Bearer Co.'s in connect ion with th e S JA.B. The whole of the men who have joined are resident s in the town, and at the distribution the n ew Bearer Co. (A) Arm Badge was much admired

BR1ERFlELD.-On Apnl 25th th e presentation of m edals to 5 members of th e Brierfield Ambulance Divisi on who h ave served in South Africa took place a t th e Cent ral Assembly Rooms. Th er e was a capital attendance, over which Councillor W a lmsley presided.

1\1r. Robert Tunstill, c.c., president of th e Brierfield Division, presented th e medals The gathering was for th e benefit of Sergeant Yoxall, who is also entit led to a medal, but who is at present in the Burnley H osp ital.

Mr. Tunstill, in making the presentatIOn, saId th at everyo n e had a duty to perform, and they bad th ere in sta n ces of s ix men, n a tiv es o f Brierfield, who had don e th e ir duty nobly and we ll.

COL K- Th e new Municipal Hall at Co ln e wa s crowded on Saturday, April 19th, when an interesting ga th e rin g to ok place, outh African war medals b eing presented by Colonel T. IIit c h ell , of 2nd Volunteer Battalion East L ancas hIr e ReglL11ent, to 11lne teen Colne m e n who h ave served as hospital orderlies during th e pr ese nt war in South Africa.

In concluding a n eloqu en t address 111 whL ch he p cu d tribut e to th e work don e by the St. ] ohn men the ga llant Colonel said, "I am proud to wcl cJme yo u lads hom e. M ay God bl ess you all. I hop e your expe ri ences in Soutb AtrIca will always m ak e you feel th at although you have done an imm e n se a mount of work for your Kin g and country th at yuu will n ot ge t slack now, but wi ll stick to your work, a nd that after th e dis ciplin e yo u have und e rgon e, the hard work, and hardship s yo u hav e go ne through, and th e mann er YOLI conducted yours elves, that now you have

AID. - 101 come home with honour and distinction you will have long life, happin ess and comfort, and end your days, all o f you , in prosperity."

EDE:i\'FIELD.-On Saturday, Ap ril 12th, the members of th e Edenfield Division of the St. J ohn Ambulance Brigade were entertai n ed to tea in the Co-operative Hall, Edenfield, by D octo rs W. and H. G. Deans, the honorary surgeons. After a s ub stan tial repast, a social was held. Dr. H G. lJ eans presided, and th ere was a large attendance of the public. ] )uring the evening the presentation of war medals t ook place to those members of the corps who have served in the present South African campaign. The ceremony should have been performed by .i\lr. Thos. Allen, JP., of H olcombe Hall, but as he was unable to be present Mrs. William D eans distributed the medals.

H EBDE;)f BRIlJGE.-Th e presentation of the South African m edals and addresses, the latter provided by local subscription, took place in the Co-operative Hall, on Saturday evening, April 19th. Prior to the ceremony the corps, headed by the brass band, paraded the streets. The hall was only about half full. Mr. E. J Crossley, ee, presided, and the presentations were made by the Mayor of Todm ord en A touch of sadness was giyen to the affair, a rising from the fact that three of the men who were sent ou t died at th eir posts.

O LDHAi\ L-A public demonstration was held in Ol?ham, on Apri l 19th, where over 5,000 people assembled 111 front of th e T own H all to witness the distribution of medals to 95 local members of the St. J ohn Brigade, wh o had been on active service iu South Afnca. Altogether Oldham had sent 141 trained ambulance to South Africa for hospita l work. Iedals had been receIved at th e local headquarters for 121 of these men, but for a variety of reasons 95 were only able to attend .

Th e pr esen tation of the medals was made by Alderman John Ho od, who was Mayor at the .tim p. whe.l1 these men went out to the war, and it was conSIdered fittmg that h e sho uld have th e honour of publicly welcoming them home and pinning up on their breasts the medals which they had earned

,V.\LTON. - rln interesting ceremony took place in the Drill Hall. Bamber Bridge, on Saturday evening, April 26th, when the medals were presented to the members of the Wa lt on-Ie-Dale division of th e St. John >\. mbulancc Brigade who haye returned from seryi e in South ..:\frica In honour of the event a ball was also held.

I n an interval of the programme the presentation of medals was made. Supt. T. Higginson presided, and there were also pre ent : Lieut.-Col. C. J. Trimbl e, deputy-commissioner of Jo. 4 district· Dr. harpIes, Messrs. J Houghton, Horrocks, Slater, Supt. Hi gginson explai ned that Mr. Harry Dewhurst, of L ostock Hall (who was to ha,·e presented the medals; was u nabl e to attend owing to a family be reavement, but Lleut.Col. Trimble had kindly un de rt aken the duty.

The men were thereafter called up, and the medal were p inned on their brea ts by Deputy -Commissioner Trimbl e who had a lso a word of commendation for each.

Deputy-Commissioner Trimble, in a few subsequent r e mar ks, said that 11 0 greater compliment could ha\·e been paid him than to hav.c hUH to yresent .t,o the , men \\" ho bad sen'ed t heIr kll1 g a nd thelr countl) 111 outh Africa tho se medals bear in g tbe effigy of our late beloved Queen

SPECL-\.LLY COl\"TRIBUTED First=Aid in Cases of Burns and Scalds.

By WILLIA:\I ETTLES, M . D., Clzief Officer of the AllIlJlIla7lce Depart7llent of l'{atiolZal Fire Bn;!{ades Un/oll; I£oII O1'a7]' LIfe k[elllber

of tile United .!,'i7'e Brigades Associatioll of j Tezv Zealand, and of tlte St. Jolm Amblliallce Associatioll; Jl£eJ71ber of HO/lour of tile Frem/z Fire Bn:fades Federation: of the Spmlislz .Red Cross Socid)', &c

THE efficient rendering of immediate assistance in injuries resulting from moist or dry heat ranks second in importance to the resuscitation of asphyxIated persons in the ambulance duty of the fireman,

When heat is applied to the surface of the living body, injuries of varying degrees of severity result. They were first scientifically classified by a distinguished French surgeon, Dupuytren, and although his classification is still generall y adopted in surgery, for Am bulance work it has been simplified to the following three graduations :-

(I) A general reddening or singeing of the skin.

(2) The above, with the production of blisters.

(3) Destruction of the true skin and charring of the underlying to a greater or less extent.

This classification, while it is descriptive of the main features of the actual injury, is not always indicative of the general injury; that is to say, of the extent to which the patients recovery is threatened. Thus a burn of the third degree may not be so severe, provided that it is small in area and inflicted on one of the extremities, as would be one of the first degree involving a considerable area of the trunk. In considering the severity of a burn, then, one should always bear in mind its superficial extent as well as its depth. It a general axiom in surgery that if the skll1 of the body be 111volvcd to the extent of half its total area, even by a bur.n .of. the first degree, the issue is nearly always fatal. Such l11Junes are, fortunately, less common today than they were a generation ago, when candles were in more general use as an illuminant, and the fair sex clad themselves in spteading crinolines and gauzy muslin. The heat of the room would cause the candles to bend one would fall out, or set light to its flimsy shade which drop down, and, if it came in contact with a dress the fabric ,yould be instantly in flames. '

Still, even now, they arc all too common The usual history is this :-

A man and his wife have retired to rest when a smell of gas IS Thinking that, possibly, one of the jets has been ll1sufficlently turned off, tIle husband takes a box of matches and proceeds stairs to ilwestigate He a room.where the odour IS more powerful and strikes a light for There is a sudden flash, perhaps a report, the wll1dows are shattered, and his thin and loose garment catches fire.

The to the skin may be so slight as almost to escape notice, for the redness may pass off.

close exal.llination, however, the skin, if it is drawn ll1to folds wah the flnger, is found to have lost its normal The folds arc harder and less l:.umerous ItS. surface has a curious "papery" consistence. ll:e hal.r and eyebrows have the distinct ive smell. of bUrJ:lng hall> and the ends of the individual hairs are t1pped Wlth a ball of pale brown cinder.

Ir: case, to me as I write, a man and hiS Wife were ll1Jured ll1 this manner. They hastily

dressed and went to a chemist near by, who was still open, and who furnished them with some carron oil to relieve the sma'·ting. A doctor was not called in till the next day-so slight were the immediate symptoms-yet the man, eyentually, became delirious and died.

When more of the skin tissue is destroyed, that is in extensive burns of the second and third degrees, the immediate constitutional symptoms are very marked Contrary to popular beli'ef, pain is a very variable feature, it may be intolerable, or it may be wholly absent, and this, in the gravest cases

The almost universally present symptom is that baneful, yet ill-defined condition, known as shock The patient lies in a stupified condition, betraying little or no anxiety as to his surroundings: the pulse is so weak that it is barely perceptible, the face and lips are pale or leacenhued, while the breathing is slow and feeble Death may occur [rom arrest of the heart's action, or a slight re-action may set in when the patient desires, above all things, a drink of water. "'Vater! " the universal cry of the sorely stricken, K ature's own indication for treatment. Yet how often misunderstood!

I now turn to the all important question of TREATXE "T. Treatment to be effective as is humanly possible must bc: based on scientific principles. Just as the antiseptic and aseptic methods have quite revolutionised surgery, so slzould they have benefited First-Aid. But arc these principles properly grasped and carried out in civil Am bulance work? So far as burns, at least, are concerned that has certainly not been the case, and yet these injuries are pre-eminently those ,,,hose antiseptic methods are imperatively demanded. The pathological feature of a burn of whatever degree is the destruction of living tissue, that is to say, the formation of dead tissue.

Now it has been found that putrefactive processes resulting from innoculation ,vi th septic poison take place with extraordinary rapidity, and are checked with unusual difficulty, when the affected tissues have lost their vitality. The antiseptic treatment then should ue commenced at the earliest possible moment. 'Ye must be guided in our assistance by the knowledge that the broad issue is to limit, if not to altogether prevent, access of septic poison or "germs" to the injured area. In the light of this knowledge, we will examine some of the current indications for treatment given the Ambulance worker.

No application has a more extensive vogue than has Carron oil-a mixtnre of equal parls o[ linseed oil and and lime water. Then; is no doubt that it gives reliefbut remEmber it gives it at a cost.

Lest it should be felt that in this I am expressing my own insignificant. opinion, 1 will quote from one of our most modern te.\.t-books of surgical treatment-that of Professor 'Yatson Cheyne and ]\[r. Burghard :-

« It is especially necessary to warn the practitioner against certain applications for burns which are commonly recommended. Carron oil, [or example (a mixture of linseed oil and lime water), is a applicatioll, alld is respollS/ble for a great deal of tlze mortal/(J' after bllrlls; the use of poultices, or water dressill{!s, and dustillg witlz jloltr, are equally bad. As far as possible, the wound ought to be treated aseptically."

It is difficult to over-estimate the sweeping impOl-tance of this statement. Every application recommended in the Ambulance manuals is condemned-and condemned in sucll terms that it is impossible, or should be quite impossible, for them to exist another day!

Why does Carron o il leaving other methods asicleincur such condemnation? Firstly, because it is u suall y

septic i secondly, it is not antiseptic; thirdly, it sheathes a germ 111. grease.

Is it septic? Carron Oil is usually kept ready-made: in large workshops, foundries, on fire engines, &c. The oil becomes rancid, or the preparation may contain putrifactiYe organisms. This is no guess. To make sure, fl,·e specimens of Carron oil were bacteriologically examined and all contained organisms.

It is not alltiseptic-that is obvious from its com position It slteatlts a germ or tiulle ill grease.

It might possibly be urged by apologists for Carron oil that it is chemically a lime soap which would ue partly soluble in ,Yater. Against that there is the theoretical objection that calcium soaps are very insoluble, and the insuperable practical evidence that it is only partially saponified. Lime water is not a powerful alkali-it could not pos::,ibly form a complete soap with the fatty acids contained in an equal bulk of linseed or olive oil.

I have, in my possession, two samples of Carron oil made six years ago. The oil and lime water haye entirely separated-the yellow oil floats on the white lime water with a sharp line of demarcation. This shows it was never chemically united. Again, a droplet of fresh Carron oil, microscopically examined, shows myriadsof minute oil globules.

Slight saponification occurs, and this renders emulsification easy when the mixture is agitated-but it remains an emulsiOl;: a fluid containing free woil, and this oil applied to the wound protects it from further antiseptic treatrr:ent unless vigorous measures are taken. 'Vhat measures? As soon as the reaction of the initial shock bas set in, the patient is placed under an anresthetic and the wound is freely washed with soap and water to free it from grease, and as an essential preliminary to the antiseptic treatment. To put it anotber way, you have done something to the patient which necessitates additional shock-that be riuht-unless there was no help for It. But there IS help for it, the help of altering your methods. handl.ing of blisters, again, is the subject of much contrad1ctory adVIce. brea/': a blister is tbe golden rule in the treatment of burns," says Dr. J. Scott Riddell, in his voluminous" Manual of .\mbulance."

" Blisters, whether arising from burns or from rowing, &c , should be pricked, the fluid allowed to escape, and the raised cuticle bound again in position," says Osborn in his "/'I.mbulance Lectures."

They cannot both be right!

Blisters arising from burns often contain a transparent clot of coaqulated lymph, hence when pricked they do not collapse. There is no object then in such a blister eyen if opening "were generally penmsslble. How does it stand as regards the antiseptic method?

.If the needle wen.: sterilised by passing it through a flame, if the wound surface had been cl!sinfected, and if an antiseptic dressing were at once applled, there would be little or no objection. Dut, unless these measures be strictly adhered to, the blisters must be left seyerely alone.

A bIder is a closed, hermetically sealed and germfree lymph space; open it, except as above, and it is septic. The rule is golden

Dr. Ie Page, in his extremely able "Jlfcllllld des Premiers Secolfrs" the official .\mbulancc handbook of the .li'(dcratloll des de Fra II (oe et discountenances all the usual popuhr rcmcdlCs, and adVIses that the injured part should be immersed for some a day if necessary, in cold water. If the of the l11.1 ur y does not permit of that, the apphcatlon of cold dressin(Ys. This is certainly infinitely superior to Carron od or flo u r similar messes , but even so, it is difficult to

A I D.- 1°3

imagine circumstances under which it would be impossible for the patient to haye qualified supen·ision within several hours, and, cold water, unless it has bl;en previously boiled, is not free from suspicion.

Picric Add has lately come into much fOTOur as an application for these injuries and has been found very valuable. It occurs as small, glistening yellow scales or crystals, sparingly soluble in water, bitter to the taste and poisonous when taken internally. Its effect when applied as a saturated soluti.on to a burn is yery marked. The pain is soothed, the inflammation subsides and healing proceeds \yith rapidity. Personally, I now itwariably use it, but it is not a suitable remedy for the fireman. It can only act on the skill-hence it can only be used for burns of the first and second degree. .\.gain, it only commences to act as a healing agency when it has dricd 011, and haying once dried on, the dressing must not be disturbed if all goes well. a time sufficient to permit of a thick, wet dressing becoming dry ought not to elapse before the sufferer is in medical hands, and it is also obyious that the fHeman cannot take a patient to a doctor and ask him not to interfere with the dressing. A doctor cannot accept the responsibility of the charge without personally examining the extent of the injury.

Glutol is another new remedy \yhich I would not mention here if it had not been e,>;tollen at the International Congress of Fire Brigades, held last year at Berlin, as the ideal application for the fireman to use. 'Yhen gelatine is subjected to the action of that ne\y and interesting agency formalin (itself the aqueous solution of the gas, formic aldehyde) its characters are entirely cbanged. It becomes hard and insoluble. The j)O\yclered formal gelatine is sifted, the fine powder being kno\yn as (. glutol." In cont3.ct with liying tissue, the gelatine is digested and minute quantities of formaline, a po\yerful antisepti<:, are liberated. But there is the rub-li'l'llIg tissue. Burns are covered with dead ti sue Hence it i recommended that a solution containing pepsine be also applied to facilitate the decomposition. That is a complication which places glutol out of court.

SlIbgallatt of B/wllIth has been ll1troduced by Bardeleben as all. immediate dres ing. Gauze bandages impregnated with it arc put up l!ndcr the of "Bardella." It is not a perfect dressmg anclls subject to the serious drawback of being expensi\·e.

.For some years, I haye adyocated the use of pu.re, dry cotton-wool in burns. The action of cotton-wool IS only appreciated by those who haye it a trial. The soothina effect is immediate; the pam disappears as If by maaic as a crerm filter it is unique. Ho\yeyer, of !at;' especiallt after discussing the point. with Pro.f. "'atson Cheyne, I have come to that It oucrht to be combined with an anti eptlc because of the rapidity with which burns become septic. That chosen is cyanide of mercury. .'

"Cyanide wool,' then, IS put up 111 small, hermetIcally, sealed packets of grease proof-paper-each one ounce 111 weight. \\ 'hen a casualty occurs t.he packets are opened and the contents unfolded and applted to the wound as required. '\'001 not required-J'('lIla/lls sterile its

I have heard the fear expressed that thIS dressll1g will stick. The answer is that its remm'al is no part of the fireman's duty. The nurse or clre ser .will float it off in a bath of antiseptic solution, or warm bolled ,yater.

The treatment of shock, or of heart and respiratory failure arc of paramount importance in these seyere injurie but their detailed study mIght be more ad\·antageou ly considered at another time.

FIRST AID

11.!.-1 ] - 20, I902.

THE recent deplorable outbreak of fire

The Barbican in the city, so near to the spot which Fire. was ravaged by the fire fiend a few years since, has once more raised the question as to whether the fire service of the metropolis, of which we are all so justly proud, is as fully manned and properly equipped as it should be. Of its morale and undoubted courage and the discipline of its members there is not the slightest doubt, it is proyerbial the whole world over. That the enquiry which is now being held will throw any additional light on the origin of the outbreak we do not for one moment imagine; the question as to wbere it first broke out, bowever, is of small moment, but tIle public undoubtedly have a right to know whether there was any delay in the efforts made to stem its course, and whether valuable time was lost in getting up steam after arri,-al at the fire. "The man in tbe street)} has expressed this opinion pretty freely, and in the city the statement is openly made that on the arrival of first engine the pressure of steam barely sufficed to carry the jet of water to the first noor of the buildings involved. It is also stated that the practice adopted at the various stations of the brigade is to keep the water hot but below boiling point. If this fact is true, and should it be proved as a result of the enquiry that it was in any way responsible for the large dimensions wbich the fire assumed, the sooner it is altered the better. It is again further contended on the part of those conversant with the district that the water pressure in the city is so good that bad the hydrants been first got to work much might have been done to stay the fire. While not acquiescing in this latter assertion, we must say we think it would be of advantage if on the call of fire a manual was at once dispatched, in all cases to be followed by the steamer

It is a well-known maxim that the course of a fire at its inception can ofttimes be retarded, if not actually quenched, by the first bucket of water. One lesson we hope will be learnt by the firms involved, and that is the value of private fire brigades and the installation of proper fire appliances on their own premises. The value of these two adjuncts to every large house of business was amply proved on the occasion of the recent fire in -Wood-street, when such splendid service was rendered by the private brigades in the adjacent vicinity. To the firms doing business in tbis neighbourhood the question is undoubtedly a most serious one The insurance rates are even now almost prohibitive and this recent outbreak may give another excuse for still further increasing them

Prize Competition.

"\VE belieye in the spirit of emulation that is created by fair competitions, and it is our intention to inaugurate a senes that will, we hope, not only interest but instruct all those who haye the Fire or Ambulance interests at heart.

A PRIZE OF ONE GUINEA

is offered for the best paper defining the "Kno wledge Required by an Officer in Charge of a Fire Brigade. "

It may be assumed thal the Brigade has all modern appliances and is located in a manufacturing and residential town of, say, 100,000 inhabitants

Papers sent in should be written on one side only, and consist of about 1,000 words. They will be the absolute property of the Editors, but if a stamped addressed em·eloped is enclosed an endeavour ,,,ill be made to return any unaccepted.

All papers must reach the offices of FIRST Am by the 5th June The author's name and address must plaInly written on the back of the last page of the MS.

Suggestions are invited for other competitions_

NEXT COMPE TI T I ON

"My A d ve n t u res as a F ir e m a n. "

Metropolitan Fire Bri g ade.

THE A;\lBULANCE SER\-ICE AKD THE FIRE BRIGADE--

The London County Council is considering the practicability of using the organisation of the Fire Brigade in connection with the establishment of an ambulance system for dealing with accidents in the thoroughfares or other public places It is proposed to place an ambulance at every station of the brigade, and at those stations which are situated in the busiest parts of the Metropolis a motor power ambulance will be establisbed. Surely the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, which is even now admittedly undermaned, has enough work on its hands without taking up a special work which should only be entrusted to trained experts in .such work.

In April, Mayor Reed, of Kansas City, removed from office George C. IIale, who bas been the well-known chief of the fire department for nearly 20 years and inventor of many valuable fire appliances, pre-eminently the Hale water tower and swinging harness.

First-Assistant Edward Trickett is his successor, and Second -Assistant Chief Henderson has become first assislant. The mayor's charge against Chief Hale was that he had attempted to hamper the Executive Department in providing tbe city with an adequate fire alarm, and to introduce politics into the Fire Department. British firemen who 11ave l1ad the pleasure of meeting Chief Hale, will regret his dismissal and extend their cordial sympath ies to him The Chief was yery popular here when he visited the Agr icultural Hall Fi r e Tournament.

l\Iay, 1902. -F I RST

Our Portrait Gallery.

LIEUT. GEORGE 1\1. HORN, 6TH BATT l\IA;,{CHESTER REGIME;,{T

THE portrait of the gentleman which appears in our "Fire Gallery" this month will, we are sure, appeal to both firemen and first-aider-s alike, inasmuch as the subject of our sketch is an enthusiast in both organisations.

Lieut. Horn, who was born in November 1880, was educated first at the Forest School, "\Valthamstow, sub-

A D.- 10 5

in that he may return soon and safely; and thIS IS a WIsh that we feel assured will be re-cchoed by all of those who have had the pleasure of meetina him and have realized his earnestness and enthusiasm the two causes which it is our privilege to speak for.

Provincial Fire Brigades.

BURBAGE.-The members of the fire brigade recently formed by l\Iessrs. Moore, Eady and Co., Ltd., sat down to dinner at the invitation of the firm in the large club room at the Chequers Inn on Tuesday evening, April 20th. 1\1r. J. Pickard presided at the social proceedings, and after the loyal toasts, proposed "The :Fire Brigade." He said he was very pleased a brigade had been formed in the village, and he considered that if the members took to heart the instructions given, and each did his very best to make the brigade a complete and efficient brigade, it would prove most useful. He wished the brigade every success. The remainder of the eyening was spent in harmony. A Yote of thanks was accorded the chairman at the close.

BURY T. the annual report of e.O. Tracey, as to the Borough Fire Brigade, it appeared that four fires had been attended in the borough, and one in the country. The steamer had been thoroughly overhauled and put in rel!air by l\Iessrs. Shand, Mason and Co., and is now in good working order. The boiler had also been examined by the Inspector of the TaLional Boiler .\ surance Coo, and pronounced to be satisfactory. It had been found nece sary to thoroughly repair the escape, which had been in work many years. During the year I7 members of the brigade presented themselyes for examination for the certificate of the .\mbulance department of the National Fire Brigade Union. Fifteen satisfied the examiner, and are entitled to wear the badge.

sequently proceeding to Marburg UniYersity, finally finishing at the Agricultural College, After leaving Wye he joined his father, Mr. Alexander Horn, in the 'lYell-known firm of Messrs. Clarke, Nicholls and Coom bs, where he soon eyinced an interest in the " Clarnico JJ Fire Brigade and Ambulance Division, both of which organisations are maintained by the firm, which takes the warmest interest in everything which conduces to or improves the well-being of their numerous staff of employes.

Taturally of a military turn of mind, the subject of our sketch joined the 2nd Middlesex Artillery Volunteers in August 1900, and was promoted to the position of lieutenant in 'eptember 190I. "\Vith Lieut. Horn, howeyer, the desire to excel in the work in which he took so great an mterest was soon evident, and he accordingly attended a course of instruction at the School of Gunnery, Sheerness, and succeeded in obtaining his P.S Soon after the outbreak of hostilities in South Africa he evinced a desire to proceed to the front, but this was not to be gmtified until he attained his majorily, wbich he did in November of last year, when he volunteered for service and was accepted, and was detailed to sene with the 6th Batt. Manchester Regiment.

An ardent voluntc:.er, Lieut. Horn has giyen striking promise of proving a practical soldier; the Fire Brigade and Am bulance Division at the works give eyidence of his thorough grasp of organisation and detail, and there are few fi r ms in this cOLlntry that can sho w so fully equipped and wdl-drilled a set of men as the "Clarnico."

\ Ve t rust that Mr. Horn may have good healt h wh ile

DITTONS.- ome two years ago Captain Litchfield, the cbief officer of the Dittons Di,-ision of the District Council Fire Brigade, formed a sick and benefit club amongst the firemen, and on \Yednesclay night April 30th, another succes ful concert, organised by Captain Litchfield, was held at the Yillage-hall, in aid of the club funds. The hall was brightend with the addition of some fine flags and bunting, and a number of cboice plants and flowers from the conser"atories of 'Kingwood' graced the platform, uniformed members of the brigade officiating as stewards. There was a crowded audience, which included Captain Kitcat and Captain R. G. Graham, of the Esher and Hampton Brigades, representatives of th leading local families and members of the District Council. An excellent had been arranged ?y Captain Litchfiel? Durincr an interval the chief officer announced am1d applauose that a gentleman in the who wished to remain annonymous, had giyen a donatlOI1 of £.5 .towards the Firen.len' Sick and Benefit Club, the subscnptlOns for which are used for any beneficial purpose for which they Dlay be yO ted by a majority of the members to assist members in distres or trouble, or to help to defray the expenses of a summer holiday

ELGIN.-The newly-formed fire brigade paraded for practice on High-street on aturday night, .\pril 26th. They were dressed in their tunic an? steel. and presented a very smart appearance. } Ire extll1gUl 'hll1g rescue duties were undergone, and the e we:e performed 111 a masterly way, which inspired confidence In the \-;:tlue of the force when real necessity brings Lhem out to duty.

-F tRST

A t May, 1902

May,

HALFWAY.-This brigade held their annual meeting in the Halfway Board Schools on April 30th, the captain, Mr. E. J. Roberts, in the chair. Appreciation ,,:as expres.sed at the action of the Parish Councilm encouragll1g the bngade.

Mr. J. W.' Spencer, treasurer, in presenting the balance sheet, congratulated .the memb.ers upon the handsome balance in hand, and It was unal1ll1lously adopted was decided to make two grants from the funds and to re-ll1sure all the members against accidents while at drill or work.

The election of officers resulted as follows: Mr. E. J. Roberts, captain; Mr. J. IV Spencer, vice-captain; Mr. George Taylor, engineer; M1'. E. Bradley, secretary.

HARROGATE.-The class, composed principally of the Harrogate Fire Salvage CorI?s an.d Harr.ogate Corporation Fire Brigade, who have receIved ll1structlOns,under. Dr. A. F. Diml1lock (hon. surgeon of the Salvage Corps) 111 Fmt Aid to the Injured, under the auspices. of .th e. St. John Ambulance Association, underwent eXamll1atlOn 111 the St. Peter's Schoolroom on Thursday evening, April 23 rd Twenty-three members presented themselves for examination which was conducted by Dr. Knaggs, and of these, entered for the final ce rtificate

HERNI!: BAY.-At the annual dinner of the above fire brigade, held at the Royal Hotel, Capt. F. Wacher in the chair, Mr. H C. Jones, Esq., ]. P., CbaJrmc_n of the Urban District Council, presented Firman J. F. Shelley, who joined the brigade on Jul y 4th, 1891, with the 10 service medal, granted by the N.F.D. U. 1r. Shelley IS also superintendent of the local divison of the St. John Ambulance Brigade.

ILFORD.- The members of the Ilford Fire Brigade, of which Mr. Woollard is supenntendent, were entertained to dinner at the Angel Hotel, High-street, on Tuesday evening, April 29th, when the festivities were of a very successful character. Councillor Ben Bailey presided over the proceedings in his usual genial manner, and in the course of the after-dinner speeches reference was made to the new and up-to-date appliances recently purchased by the Council for the brigade, the fire station being now one of the best equipped in the county. Capt. Woollard was presented with a second long service bar, thereby testifying to his 20 years active life in the service.

LYNN. - Saturday, Apnl 29tb, was a busy day for the Borough Fire Brigade, their time being greatly taken up with an examinat ion in ambulance work by Dr. Green, hon. district surgeon , National Fire Brigades Union (assisted by Captain Tracy, Bury St. Edmunds). The examination, theoretical and practical, was conducted at the Corn Exchange. About 3.30 a few ladies and gentlemen attended to hear the result.

Dr. Green said that a fire brigade's examination in ambulance work was very strict, but the work that day had been of a very high standard, especiaily th e practical part, for with the exception of four men all had passed. That showed that great pains bad been taken in their trainin g . He paid a high tribut e to the brigade for the way the stretcher ,vork had been gone through, and congratulated both officers and men on their excellent performance

MAIDE::-<IIEAD. The foreman of the fire escape (Mr. G. Watson) has been appointed a lieutenant in the Maidenhead Fire in the place of M r. T. Ii.. Durrant, resigned, and M1'. P W. Jackson, one of the sen ior firemen, has been made foreman of the fire escape.

MANCHESTER.-The fire brigade h ad an exceptionally busty time for about an hour on Thursday, April 24th, no fewer than five outbreaks of fire taking place between ten and eleven o'clock. One of the first occurred at the shop of Mr. Middleton, outfitter, 34, lvIarket-street, and a few minutes later a call was received at the sl;ation from Messrs. Roberts and Sons' tailoring estab li shment at the corner of Bank-street and Cross-street. Among the other sufferers were Messrs. Kendal, Milne and Co., Deansgate, but in this case the se rvi ces of the brigade were not required. Fortunately, very slight damage resulted in each instance, although considerable excitement was aroused by the number of a larms. The cause of the fire in each case was the "fusing" of the electric supply cable, and tbree men who were working in a manhole at the corner of Messrs. Lewis's, Market-street, bad a narrow escape of suffocation. There is no doubt that it will still be some time before we bring our el ectric lighting arrangements to a state of perfection, even as regards safety.

SHEERNESS - The annual supper of the District Council Fire Brigade was held at IY ood's Restaurant on Thursday evening, April 17th, when Mr. E. \V. Brightman, J.p., once more invited the membcrs to parrake of his hospitality. In the course o[ his speech he said he hoped that the time would come when funds \,'ould admit of the Council purchasing a steamer.

SUNDERLA::-<"D.-Mr.W. F. Yelland, who was [or some years ch ief officer of the St. Helen's Fire Brigade and arterwards was appointed to be assistant-superintend ent at Bradford, has been appointed to the post of fire brigade superintendent of this town

The May-Oatway Company have secured an important contract for the fixing of their fire alarm to the Poplar ( London, E ) Workhouse, one of the largest institutions of its kind.

The Wellington Asylum and Caversham Industrial School, Otago, N.Z., haye been fitted with the electrical fire alarm system 1l1\'ented by Mr. May, late Government electrician at Dunedin, ancl adopted by the Covernment various Stateowned buildings, and the system is also to be 11lstalled at once at the Summer Deaf and Dumb Institution and the elson Asylum.

3 e

National Fire Brigades Union.

T. R. Dewar, Esq, M.P., nL., J.p , of Perth and London, has presented a very handsome Challenge Shield, value fifty guineas, as a perpetual shield, the first contest to tak e place at the Margate tournament this year.

Everything promises well for the Great Tournament, and given fine weather it should be a record gathering, but Brigades must consider that Lhey can do much to lighten the labours of the genial but overworked Hon. Gen. Secretary by sending in their entries at once and not leaving them till the closing day, Jun e 7th.

The list of competitions [or the National Shields and Cups, and open events to take pla.::e at MargJ.te on July 5th to 12th, I902, is now published. In consequence of certain printers' errors, especially noticeable is that in the National Manual Challenge Shield Competition, a revised issue will dOLI btless bave to be made. The entrance fee of lOS in tile Selangor Cballenge Cup (which can only be beld for one year) would appear excessive, having in view that cash prizes are not given.

We have received a copy of the annual report of the Union and must congratulate the executive on its continued prosperity. The adverse balance on the Ptrry Barr Camp is being slowly but steadily wiped out, and in every district there is evidence of the good the Uniun is doing. We are glad also to note that under the careful g uidan ce of Capt Folker, the energetic general honorary secretary, the Widows and Orphans Fund is at last coming to the fore. Much more, however, remains to be done before the fund can be said to be representative of the Volunteer Fire Service of the country, and wc trust that the appeal which Capt. Folker makes will not be made in vain. We understand that it is in contemplation Lo erect a memorial to the late Capt. Green, of Oxford, one or th e founders of the Union. "\V e commend this to our readers, for no finer " fire chid" ever commanded than e.O. Green, and it is only right that his memory shou ld be perpetuated by the mern bers of the service he loved so well..

A t

Yoolard, Ilford ; Capt. Gardner, Stroud; Capt. Stone, ; Capt. Shaw, Manchester; Capt. Cannon, Er?th; Capt. Dore, Sandown, I.W.; Capt. Craig, Milton; Capt. l\ndrews, Brentwood; Capt. Linnock, Burgess Hlll; Capt. Gosling, Sutton; Capt. John son, J.P., Stamford; Capt. Hamilton Cape Hill' Capt. Young, Weybridge; Capt. Lyne, Mon. Supt. Poncerot and Dr. Ettles, ambulance; Hon Gen. Sec.,. Folker, and. many Capt. J. H. Dyer, VicePreSident, occupled the chaIr on behalf of His Grace the Duke of Marlborough .

The minutes of the last annual meeting were read and signed.

The following new brigades \vere elected: Loswithiel Cornish District; Torquay, South Western District Whyteleafe, Surrey District; Wells Somerset South Western District ; Sidmoutb, South' Western bistrict· Twickenham, South l\Iidland District. )

The report of the Long Service Medal Committee was r eceived and adopted.

Capt. J. H. Dyer propose.d, and seconded by Lieu:.Col. Dixon, that the follOWing be elected Hon. Life Members for services rendered :-Rt. Hon. Sir Frank Cavendish Lascelles, C. B., British Ambassador, Berlin. The Russian Count Kamarvoski, and Herr "Westphalen Chief Officer Fire Brigade Hamburg.

The Chairman moved that the annual report and balance sheet as printed be received and adopted.

Elect/om :- President: His Grace the Duke of Yice-Presidents: Capt. Dyer, Major Fox, Lieut.-Col. DIxon. Treasurer: II'. Power French, Esq. Auditors: 1essrs. Bonner and Dale.

Mr. Charles Kusel presented an im'itation from the Italian Federation, Milan, in May 31St and June 1St.

A Vote of thanks to all the officers of the Union terminated the meeting.

" 'mows AND ORPHANS BENOVELE::-<T Fu JD - The annual meeting of the above was held at the Holborn Restaurant on Wednesday, i\fay qth. Capt. Graham, Hampton Fire Brigade, presided. The following were also present :-Capts. 1\'est brook, Peters, Dyson, Linnock, Mace, Young, Brind, Dell, Dyer, Lyne, Gardner, Evans, Green, Gosling, Cannon, Stone, Hounsol11, Hamilton, Hill, Tabor and Dore; Messrs. Isaac, Kusel, and the Hon. Gen. Sec. Folker.

The Chairman addressed the meeting on the advantages of the } und, and proposed tbe reception and adoption of the annual report and balance sheet.

Capt. Westbrook was elected a Life GOl"ernor, having qualified for same.

The follOl \'in g Governors were elected :-Lieut-Col. Seabrooke, Rugby; Capt. Graham, Hampton; Lieut.-Col. Dixon, Sutton; Capt. Johnsoll, llJ, tamford; Capt. Peters, Sittingbourne; Capt. Cardner, Stroud ; Capt. Green, Stafford; Capt. Yemon, High Wycombe; Capt. Miller, Ley ton ; Capt. Dyer, Alton; Capt. Westbrook, Tunbridge Wells Capt Cannon, Eritb, and i\I1'. Isaac, Liverpool.

A yot e of th anks to the Chairman and Hon. Secretary term inated the business.

J\scoT. - Calkd to a nre at Swinley Brickfield soon after midnight on Sunday, 27th, the fire brigade arrived on thc scene befo re one o'clock. One of tbe drying sheds had caught fire, but tile men at tbe works had put out the flames before the arrival of the engine.

The Annual Dinner of the N.F.B.U.

HIS Grace the Duke of Marlborough presided at this function on the I4th inst., at the Holborn Restaurant, where an excellent dinner was attended by about ISO members and friends. Among those present were Sir Walter Pyne, Major General Turner, CB., the Mayor ot Margate, Surgeon-Major Russell, E. O. Sachs, C Herbert Brown, Dr Hastings, G Barratt, Capt. Johnson, J.p., Col. Seabrooke, F.R.A.S , Monsieur C Kusel, Col. G. W Dixon, H. S. Folker, hon. sec., Dr. Ettles, Supt. Poncerot, Capts. T. Dyson, T. W Gardner, Tabor, Maj. Harrison, Capts. Marshall say, Green, Young, H W Tracy, Gosling, Dyer, Finn, Graham, F. R. Farrow, Charnley, Bell, Woolard, Brooker, Bell, Gosden, Stone, A C Mace, Messrs. Isaacs, Reynolds, Harris, Dale, Cleaver and others Letters of regret for not being present were read from Sir Eyre Shaw, who sent good wishes for a successful meeting; General Trotter, T R. Dewar, Esq., M.P., Guy Pym, Esq., M.P., The Right Hon. J. Brodrick, the Mayor of Birmingham, and oth ers.

After the repast the Duke of Marlborough in his usual amiable and capable way, gave the toast of "The King," which was duly honoured.

Mr. C Herbert Brown, the hon. counsel to the Union gave the toast of the "Imperial }'orces," and mentioned that the Fire Brigades sent out no fewer than 700 men to South Africa.

Major General Turner, CB ., in reply, said he thought the Fire Brigades had well done their part in the war, and that he thought our fire-fighters who saved life in the course of their noble work were as much entitled to the V.C as any soldier who saved all. officer's life.

His Grace, who was most enthusiastically received, then proposed the toast of the cvening-" Success to the Fire Brigade Union." He said he not only felt it an honour, but he found it a great pleasure to belong to the Union which now consisted of some 7,657 officers and men. It would give him great pleasure to attend the meeting at Margate if the Mayor would permit him, and he hoped it would be a great success. He congratulated them on their financial Dosition and he hoped they \-vould soon be able to place apart a good sum to the Widows and Orphans Fund Few deserve better recognition from the public than those who are engaged day by day and night by night in saving life and property, and he was always pleased and proud to participate in everything connectcd with the Fire Brigades. He congratulated them on the attendance that evening, on the past prosperity of the Union, and expressed the hope that they might flourish and prosper in the future in a more marked degree than in the past.

The toast was received in a manner well worthy of firemen

Col. Seabrooke, in reply, said that during the last year had been made by the Union, many more brIgades had Jomed and that the Ambulance Department under th.e guidance of their friend, Dr. Ettles, had great stndes, although their examination was longer than usual. He hoped all present would help to make the welcome extended to them by the Mayor and Corporation of Margate a great success Thanks to the efforts of Capt. Graham, of t.heir Widows and Orphans Fund had largely lOcreased, 111 conclusion, a feeling reference was made to the loss susta1l1ed by the Union in the death of Capt. Worth, of Bournemouth.

Lieut.-Col. Dixon, in proposing the toast of "Neigh-

-

bouring Federations," referred to the good work being done by the Fire Preventions Committee, so ably presided over by their friend, Mr. E. O. Sachs, who has done so much for the Nation's benefit, this body tested everything that was likely to be of use in building and that information was at the service of the architect or builder. Many present had the honour of being members of foreign Federations, and. it ah.vays gave them pleasure to go abroad and learn, and, If pOSSIble, teach or show tbeir friends something They were proud to have Mr. Kusel, \vho had been their friend in France and Belgium, and Mr. Sachs, who represented the German Brigades in London, present.

Mr. Sachs and Mr. C Kusel most suitably replied.

Capl. Dyer, of Alton, then proposed the toast of "The Visitors," and most suitably extended a hearty welcome to them

The Mayor of Windsor, in his reply, said that when they came to his town they would have to look to their laurels, for during the last year they had added a horse escape and steamer to their institution, especially as they only lost the Escape Prize last year by the Ioooth part of a second. The other night, at ] 2 o'clock, he gave an alarm, and they turned out in seven minutes. lIe was surprised, as he thought at that hour the men would be otherwise engaged. He extended to the Union a hearty welcome to Margate.

Dr. Hastings of the Raleigh Club also replied Sir ,Valter Pyne, in replying, said he was not a fireman, but that he had introduced fire appliances in Afghanistan, and he most humourously narrated his experience when they first turned out with their two Merryweathers. After offering him £ J ,000 for his services, they prayed for him at a Mosque.

Capt. Graham then proposed "Our President."

The Duke of Marlborough, in his reply, said that a most hard-worked but modest man in the Union had, that evening, escaped his notice, and in returning thanks for the splendid reception they had given him said he owed his many thanks to Capt. H. S. Folker, their genial and courteous Hon. Sec. Capt. Folker most suitably replied and stated that the Districts and the Council all worked most harmoniously. Excellent music was provided between the speeches. i'l.B - .J pm'traiL oj til e Duk e of 1I1ar/boroug ll wa s puMislted ill our April issue.

We are pleased to state that the popular Chief Officer of the London Salvage Corps, Major Fox, has so far recovered from his indisposition as to be able to leave town.

The German Emperor has sent a special invitation for some representatives of the Chapter of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem m England to be present at the ceremonies connected with the Festival of the Re-consecration or the Marienburg on June 5th and 6th. The Schloss at Marienburg belonged to the Teutonic Knights, between whom and the German branch of the Order of St. John there was anciently an affiliation. The King has commanded the following members to attend as as a Deputation :-Knights of Justice, Sir ] ohn Honorary Bailiff, and the Marquis of Breadalbane, Asslstant Director of the Ambulance Department; Knights of Grace, Colonel C Bowdler, Chief Commissioner of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, and Colonel Sir Herbert Jekyll, Secretary General of the Order. The Prince of Wales has deputed Sir John Furley to represent the Chapter a t the forthcoming Red Cross Conference at St. Petersburg.

May, 1902.

The History and Developement of Manual, Steam and Motor Fire Engines.

By CHAS. T. CROWDEN, M.LCE., M.L.i\..F.E., )Y1.S.A., &c., &c.

(Continued from page 93.)

AFTER Newsham's engine, several other firms in England started to build fire engines. In 17 8 5, Joseph Bramah patented and made a fire engine, which possessed several and peculiar ideas. It was the same Joseph Bramah who lOvented the hydraulic press, and to whom the world at large is indebted for this valuable invention. He was also the inventor of the lock which is called after his name to the present day.

Fig 9 shows one of Bramah's engines which was constructed either before or at the beginning of the last century, This as will be seen, has a crude carriage on whIch a long cylInder or barrel is fitted. Owing to this

A I D.-

village near Sto:ve House was burned to the ground. I have also been Informed that only a short time aO'o at a recent n(e, this old engi.ne di.d good service and to work whilst the more modern fire engines failed. I should like to see the original name plates and instructions

peculiarity it was called Bramah's Barrel Engine. The rocking shaft passes longitudinaly through the centre of the barrel or cistern, and also through the centre of the pump barrel or cylinder, in which there are rocking blade pistons or buckets. This pump is now on the market, and is used chiefly for pumping heavy oils, and is called the " Ving" pump. Not many years ago it was claimed to be the invention of a well-know Swedish engineer, although these pumps of Bramah's have been hidden in their barrels for years Mo u nted on the top of the barrel is a hose and tool box, and protruding from the end cover of the cistern or barre l are the suction and delive ry outlets This Bramah engine was purchased by the predecessors of the late Duke of Buckingham for the protection of Stowe House. I am sorry to say it was repaired a few years ago by a well-known firm of fire engine makers, who have removed the original name plate and substituted their own, thus removing all trace of Bramah's name Notwithstanding the great number of years t hi s engine has been in existance it was of va luab le service abo u t ten years ago, when the whole

"How to use it " replaced upon this engine, which is still Stowe so as to stand as a monument to the great mventor who IS alone responsible for the conception of this original engine. I also regret that no one at Stowe remem bers when it came there, neither had they any idea that the engine was constructed by Bramah.

In 1791, 11r. Charles Simkin took out several patents in connection with fire engi.nes. These improvements, I believe, referred to pistons and valves, and consisted in constructing the latter of metal instead of leather. The firm who originally made Simkin's engine was afterwards called Hadley, Simpkin and Lot, and is now Merryweather and Sons, Ltd. The late 11r. :Merryweather was at this time employed by the firm, and like the industrious apprentice he married one of the partner's daughters

In 181 2 Tilley constructed a manual fire engine, and was the predecessor of :Messrs. Shand and Mason. This firm coming into existence about 1856. About this time manual fire engines were constructed (Fig. 10). This was the type used by the London Fire Brigade and afterwards known as he Brigade Manual, a description of which is hardly necessary here. Before leaving the subject of manual engines, about 1858 0r ]859, a mechanic employed by one of our large fire engine Jrms after hearing of another firm's intention to build a steam fire engine, suggested the driving of a set of manual pumps from the shafting of the shop. After a lot of hesitation regarding the co t, &c., it was decided to

carry" this out; but when the result (by throwing a jet from the street) was sho wn to the master, he declared it was too powerfu l, and ordered it to be taken down at once. No\\"-

FIG 9

FIG. 10.

FIG. I.

adays such a machine, although considered too powerful at such a recent date, would be considered almost useless for fire purposes,

K\RLY ENGLISH STE:\;\I FIRE

Fig, 1 I shows the first steam fire engine construc,ted in Great Britain, which was in 1829, by illessrs. BraJth-

A I D,- II lay, 19 0 2. with Mr. Braithwaite. During the construction of his early engines he left England, and we next hear of him in New York, \"here he appears to have built an engine and obtained a gold medal in 18-1-0 for his design V,> merican engines will be dealt \vith in another article).

Fig 14 shows a fire engine also built by Braithwaite for the City of Liverpool.

Fig , 15 shows another of Braithwaite's steam fire engines, called the" omet," which was built in 1832 for the King of Prussia, being practically built on the same plan as the "Novelty," except that the combustion was

.. •

FIG, 12, waite and Ericsson, Full particulars of this engine are at the present time not obtainable, According to the Jlfechom/s }JagaziJZe of February 13th, 1830, it appears to have been capable of throwing 90 tons of water per hour through one of four small jets, Shortly afterwards 1\1r. Braithwaite constructed another but smaller steam fire

. by an exhauster (induced draught modern invention) instead of a blower. The engine had two steam cylinders 12 in. in diameter, two water cylinders 10:' in. in diameter by 14 in stroke Steam \vas raised to "75 Ibs, in t\venty minutes, throwing water through an 1 in. jet to a height of 1 20 ft. at 18 double strokes per minute. In 1860 it is reputed that this engine was still in use, although not for extinguishing fires, iJut for pumping water from a mine

At this date steam fire engines were not supported or apparently required, as no steam fire engines were made after this period for upwards of twenty years.

Fig , 16 shows Brai thwaite's last steam fire engine I n 1856, a paper was read (before the Society af Arts)

Letters to the Editors.

HrL\IORRH.\GE: DIRECT PRESSl!RE, DE.\R - :-\_s a disciple of ::it. the John Ambulance As 0ciation, permit me to remark that it is strange that the i olated cases \I-here direct pressure on the wound has not been brOlwht to bear should haye been centrcd into the experience of Spencer. All the lecturers I haye heard, taught emphatically "direct pressure," and all the books ha\-e state the same thing, even one gil-en me as far back as 1879 by the late Sir Edmund A. H, Lechmere. Bart., :'>f.P., F,S.A. Therefore su ch treatment as that spoken of by :'-1r. Spencer mu t be the fault of the il/di, /dlllll, not the la!1I rer or the tcxt books.

Thanking you for \ entilating this subject,- l am, yours truly,

AU -RED -,\'ILLL\;\l PE ,\CHEY, 30, SI\'indon-street, Cheltcnham, April 16th, 1902.

ASSOCIATIOX OF SURGEOi\S.

D L\R SIR, -\Vill you kindly mention in your next copy of All) that an .-\ssociation of Honorary Surgeons has becn formed, Circulars of its formation have been sent to each honorary surgeon \"hose name appeared in the last report, but should there be some \\'ho ha\'e not rccei\ cd the letters, I shall be glad if they \\ ill communicate with me, \I'hen full particulars will be forwarded. The objects of the Association are :-

1St. To further cil'il ambulance work.

2nd. To aiel and ad\'ance the interests of the Order of St. John of J erusalcm. (This is undcr discussion at 3rcl, To \\ atch the interests of honorary surgeons, To promote social intercourse among the membcrs. The PrO\-isional Committee consists of members, \\ ho are - Chief Surgeon, S. Osborn; Honorary Surgeons, L Cantlie, J, T. \\'oods, H }{. Sleeman, J. 13rO\\'I1, R.i\. ( Chairman, J, :'II. Can cll ( Hon. Treasurer), J. J. :'>Iarsh Han, Secrctary ), The first annual meeting \\ ill be hcld at the Hotcl Cecil at 6 p,m" on \\'ednesclay, June 25th, to be followed at 7,30 for 8 by the first annual dinner. of which will be forwarded to each mem ber.

Trusting you will kindly oblige me in this malter. Yours truly, J, -:\L\RSH, :'II.D., Han. Sec. Hon. Surgcon to the Bclgravia 1 ursing Dil ision, and -ictoria Di\ision L.B. and S.c.R. Sloane-strect, S.\\'. .\pril :qth, J902.

AID III

The subject of thc "smartening- of the uniform" is one cOl1\'eys at oncc, and strongly the 1,'(ldlill,<; do"." to the al m) status: but to thoroughly understand ho\\ this is to be ncce sary to be<'-r in mind that the St, John unlfOl m \\ as ne\-er ntended to be hOllY, I n fact, if an\'thll1g", It \\'a<; se\ cre ratl:er, than gaudy', Of coursc. the adoptIOn a somewhat Similar dress " b\' "itinerant mu ieal ranks, The Boys' and The Church .-\rmy,· \\ as perhaps unfortunate, It IS to bc rcgrelted if the St Tohn \\'ere e\ er classed With those bodies, Still, such a mi' take could not ha:'c done us barm, and, in all probability has added to theil' lustre, 1 hiS confUSIOn might be ad\'ancecl as an argument 111 fa\'our of the contell1plated addit ions, alterations martlngs ;l as follol\s ;-

l. Field sen ice cap piped II ith \\ hitc,

2. \\'hite piping down leg of trousers, and wbite cord to leggings.

3. Bnght metal buttons.

f. Buff leathcr belt and pouches_

, fbese would cOJ1\ ey at first sight e\ en to a "casualist," the Idea of change,

engine called the" Novelty," which appears to have been used at the destruction of the Argyle Rooms in the same year, and it worked incessantly for five hours, and consumed only about three bushels of fuel (the engine being in charge of only two men). The steam cylinder was 7 i n in diameter, and the water cylinder pump 01 in, in diameter,

by the Superintendent of the London Fire Brigade, which was then, control, of Company.

Mr. BraIthwaIte 111 the dIscussIOn, eVldently much disappointed at the non-attention he had received from the Authorities, and no doubt from the r eatment he had experienced from them, said the Fire I nsurance Offices were not ve r y anx o u s for their fires to be exting u ished at all.

(To be continued.)

FlG 14

the stroke being 19 in,; a,nd the number of strokes t h irtyfive t? forty-five per mmute The total weight of the machme was not more than 45 cwt. Modern engines of this cannot do much better to-day.

12, and 13 we r e designed by Captai n Erricso n , a SwedIs h engmeer, who appears to have been assoc ia t ed

Rt! FIRST AID POCKET OUTFIT.

DEAR SlR, - I h;l\'e read Geo, Danl in's letter in your last issue. and ha\'e sincc obtained one of i'lIessrs. Thompson and Cappcr's (Li, erpool) "Pocket Accident Case s " I am sure it will meet with thc apprO\'al of all " First Aid" workers who endea 'our to becomc possessed of one, t is \'cry compact indced, and al 0 contains full directions for using the "foreign " articlcs, There is no doubt that great credit is due to l\lessrs. Thompson and Capper for the introduction of such a neat, small and \\'ell filled pocket ambulance outfit.- I am, dear sir, yours very truly,

HOR,\CE \\T, COTTOK, No, q Division,

r r, Annandale-road, Chis\\'ick. May loth, 1902.

THE J\tILITARISATIOi\ Of THE ST. JOHI Al\IHULA CEo

Sm, Continuing this subjcct, in refercnce to the unnecesary institution of corporals, I should like to add that in all probabi Ii ty prcssure wi II be brough t to bear upon mcn \\'ho ha\'c hithcrto performed voluntary public duty to induce thcm to continuc doing so, But this can only be done by superintendcnts appcaling to the mcn upon purely pcrsonal grounds, and wou ld therefore have no lasting effcct nor rcmove the irritan t produced by tbe lesscr N, C, O.

_-\.lteratl?ns \1 hen n,lade should drastic and complete, but those 1Il0\ atIons are nelthcr. .-\s umll1g them to be e\'er\'thinuthat, can be des ired, a man dressed in tunic, and leg;5l1lgs Without doubt be taken for a policeman, whi c h, whilst saymg a great deal, does not speak much for the intelligcnce possessed by a St. John First Class Orderl\', But " fully drr:ssed and equipped, " he presents a curiously mothappearance hiS leather trappll1gs being bllff. \\ 'hilst the water bottle and strap o\'er one shoulder is blac!:, and the ha\'ersack oyer the other shoulder is 'i the legg-ings and boots, by thc bye, ,are biad', Tbe alterat,lOn of the hal'crsack, water bottle, and boots to khaki would ccrtainly be producti\ e of Ul1lfOrmlty, but pcrhaps the wholesale taking up of the war colour I too much e\'en for our rel'olutionists, Th<=: iniquity of these \\ ill be gra ped at once \\ hen It IS kno\ln the of the alterations are upposed tobe permISSI\ e. Bngades are not bound to carry them out, but If one member deSires and has his uniform altered all the others must gi\ e way and do likewise. Or, if a new member joins he has to wear the altercd uniform, 1\ hich again necesSl ta all the others belllg alte:ed, for all men on reco£;lIist'd pubhc duty are to be dressed ahke, If one man attended in the so-called nell' uniform, and t\\'enty other\\'ise, the twenty \\-ould be sent home, It is notorious that on day a nlan was sent away because he had not a regulation which I think. c\'erybody ,\-ill agrce is pla)'!lI£; at it. Again, the sign of armYlsm, appears 111 rcgard to the.' field sen ice cap." 0 proper pro\'lslon IS made as to \I-hen It ma)- be \I'om except that duty \\'ear them if in. charge gi\ es miSSion, ThiS necessitates the cap" bem),; ah\'ays carned pos ibly in the ha\'ersack, But it laid down in orders for all purposes the peaked railway guard hat is to be \I'om, A Sf.. John man is not allo\\ ed to wear his uniform except \\ hen gOIllg to from, or on duty, and thcrcfore docs not require a , going-out)) dress; so of what possible use is the "cap?"

Again, what becomes of the" hat" if an officer g i\'es orders for thc cap to be worn ?

And nOlI' the .( bright buttons," \\ Thilst in South Africa the men worc the black buttons, prm-idccl they aill'a), possessed a full Sl:1t, and consequently had none to clcan, But in any fre h contingency St. John mcn \\'Quld hal e bright metal buttons, and would therefore ha\-e to carry cleaning matcrials which arc always liable to be lost or stolen, In this respect at least the army might ba\'e copied us II-ith ad, antage, for ordinary people would expect that the least ornall1ontal dress Il'ould be worn under such conditions

It is common knowledge that army uniforms are specially designed to be attractive with a \-iell' of capturing recruits But that docs not pertain to the St. John's, for I very much doubt if any man would be so fascinated by our drcss as to go through thc threc years St. J Ohl1 training simply to prescnt himself to his lady-Ioye in our groteslJue nell' unifOrIl1. -ith us it is humanity not cntill1enlalisl1l, and the maxim of efficiency should ah\ ays be preferrpd to the picturesquc_

If it mcets with your wishes, I will dcal with the Dearer Co, next issue. Thanking you for your continued courtesy,-I bcg to remain, yours faithfully, S. L. A. B ,

ASK YOUR NEW8AGENT TO SUPPLY "FIRST AID " EVERY MONTH.

FIG. 13

FIG, IS

FIG 16,

\\'A:\TED, A:\ EFFICIE:\T A:\IBCL-\:\CE SERnCE.

SI R,-Passing through Aldersgate-street ye terday at about I. 5 p.m. I saw I a poor fellow on his back on the pavement, e\'idently in a fit, and being attended to by two or three sympathetic passers-by. I personally ran for a policeman, and, extraordinary as it may appear. although, 0 to speak, in the heart of the City of London, it was seyen minu es before one could be found and exactly half an hour before an ambulance arri\'ed to take th:s poor to the :t. Bartholomew's Ho-pital.-Yours, &c :\ox.

London. :\lay J 3th

CO.:\IPLDIE:\TARY

DEAR SIR.-I have received a copy of your new paper, FIRST AlD, and am \'ery pleased wirh same. r would suggest that it would be great advantage to ambulance if you would de\'ote a page in one of your numbers to names and addresses of Secretaries of A.mbulance Corps.

I ay the Eastwood Digby and \\-atnall Divi ion are arranging to hold a Demon tration and Ambulance Competion for members of Corps or Division in :\0. :; District at Giltbrook, near :\ottingham, on Saturnay, July 12th, 1902, when \ aluable prizes will be awarded for work done.

r ha\'e passed your paper round among the members of this Divi ion and those of Eastwood and \\'atnall, and shall, no doubt, be able to get a number of subscribers to same.- Your faithfulh-.

Gilesbrook :\otts THOS COOPER

A. correspondent from Birchwood writes :- " think FIR T AlI! is a capital and ought to succeed I gladly subSCribe myself, and \\'Ill bnng It before our men and do my be-t to induce them to. follo,,' my example. I assure you of my "ery hearty good WI hes for the success of FIR. T AID.

HO:\OCR TO \\-HO:\1 HO:\OCR IS DCE.

\Ve have recei\'ed se\-eral letters on this ubject but they are held oyer in con equence of the pre sure on our space.THE EDITOR

In answer to se\'eral correspondents it should be stated that the Conductor Proprietors and Editors of this J oumal are ):OT connected WIth any firm or manufacturers of fire or ambulance appliances.

Volunteer Ambulance School of Instruction.

President: Andrew :\Iaclure, ':.D late L.S.R.\Office: 23 Cambridge Street, Hyde Park, \V ORDER:

The .next class the training of regimental stretcher WIll commence 1U October. Application forms can be obtaIned of Sergt. :rr. J. Bussell, 13 Gower-street . or of Amb.-Sergt. C SkJ!lbeck,6, Carlton-hill, :\.\\-

'By Order , P B GILES, F.R.C.S ., Brigade Surgeon Lt.-Col., Senior :\ledical Officer.

L.-\ DS A:\,D THE CORO::-\ATIo::-\ -At a socia l ga th ering 1U connection with the Brighton Parish Church C0rl!pany of the Church Lads' Brigade, on :\londay eyening April 28 th, the Re\,. Prebendary Deedes said he was gratified to read I.n the that tne Brigade would take part in the CoronatIOn. III June and he hoped the Brighton lads

\\:ould partICipate JU the rejoicing in London. Captain Heather, commands the Company, c(;mfirmed this by stating that fi\ e lads fr<?m each Company III the Chichester Regiment partIcIpate III the review in London, and the ambulance sectIOn would also be represented

NURSES' U IFORMS, CAPS, COWNS, BONNETS, &c.

AS :,L"PPLlED TO The Principal Hospitals and :\ursin g Institutions and H yL War Office.

PATTERNS :ree the W ashing Materials as 1"": the Lon don anj P rovinci31 Rospi tals

REGATTA CLOTH CLIO HO SPI TAL CLOTH , MELV ILL E CLOTW, HECTOR DRILL , HAW AX DRILL MILO BINBHAM , Estimates given ior all kinds of Requi. site, Ti kos, heeling-, Flannels, Calicoe &c

Garrould's R ed Cro ss Nur ses' Catal ogue

E. & R. Carrould, 150 , 152 154, 156, 158 , 160. Edgware Rd., Hyde Park, LONDON, W. Tr:.'r:/nOJli. 3-1, Faddin -7o Jl. TelETal1l<: (;art-olf!d, London."

COUPON TICKET

S: ELlAL_ Y GCARA.OTEED BY

The Ocean Accident and Gllarantee Corporation

LIMITED , 40) 42) & 44) MOORGATE STREET ) LONDON, E C, (to whom X otice of Claim". under the following cl.ndili, n" he sent within se,-en of accident to the aUo\'e addres )

6000g3

£100

will be paid b,- the aboye Corporation to the legal repre;:entati"e 0, anyone who is killed by an accident to the Pa-senger Train (\I'ilmn lhe Gnited Kingdom Qr Channel I slands), in which the was :1 ticket bearing or passenger, or who shall, ha\'e been injured thereby (should death re-ult within ninety day- after uch accident).

PROYIDED that the per on so killed or injured had upon his or her per-on or had left at home thi tickel, \\;th hi or her, usual ignature, written prior to the accident. on the pace proyided uelo\\' , which, together with the gi,;ng of notice within the time as hereinbefore mentioned, is the essence of this contract.

This insurance holds good for current issue only. and carries the benefits of and is subject to, the conditions of the c. OCEA);, ACCIDEXT A);, D GGAR..-\. );,TEE CO:'IP"\);,\-, Limited, _\ct, 1890," Ri k :\0 2 and 3.

The Corporation admit that the purcha e of this Paper is the payment of a premium under ection 34 of the Act.

Xo person can re co\-e r under more than one Coupon ticket in respect of the same risk.

The

L\lPORT A:". T :\OTICE. - The date of publication of First Aid is the 20th of the month.

L\1PORTA;\T r\OTICE!

IT having come under the notice of the proprietors of Fi rst =Aid " that no provision ill be made for the in g or accommodation of the provincial officers or nursing s isters who may be detailed for duty in London during the Coronation ceremonies, they have decided to advertise in the local press within the neighbourhood of St. John's Gate for rooms and ot her accommodation for any members who may be selected for duty on th is occasion. Selected \ o lunteers for this duty a re inyited to re gis ter their names and requirement s at thi s offic e , but it must be distinctly under stoo d that while eyery care will be exe r cised in the se le ct io n of r oo m s, the proprietors n o further respo n s ibility ot her'wise than that of placing applicants in co mmuni cation with th ose who have ro o m s to let. All letter s for this departm e nt s hould be marked " CORO:\ATIO:\,," and addressed to ;n essrs. Dale and Reynolds, "Fi rst:Aid " Offlces 46 Cannon:street, London , E .C.

TEIDl' OF CB 'CRIPTIOX.

r or 12 111 l1.h ,. I,. 6d 1-''-'" free I"e "en! l:) the I'ubli :\ I" ,q,. Dale. l' e\ n le and Co 46. Cann on --tree!. Lomlon. E. C.

·',z/,hi,- _lddrc.<s-" T7.<'''//Y:fNII·. Londo/l."

T.:I( _\ -0. - --Iff Ba ;;".

Brevities.

THE. r. John .--\mbubnce Brigade has now been in exis tence for about fifteen and the work it ha done has earned the gratitude of all who take an inte r e t in suffering humanity The noble band of men and women who form this, the brighte t jewel in the crmm of the Order of 't John, have taken up thi work becau-e the), lm-e it, and bearing in mind rhe time and money many of them sacrifice in the prosecution of their self-impo ed duties they a r e entitled to eyer)' con ideration at the hands of tho e who haye the control of the corp. Do they ge t it? If the report we recei\'e almost daily from co rr epondents are correct we should say-::\" o From what ,ve can learn a to the career of the brigade, until a few year ago it wa an organi ation ba ed on purely ci \-ilian lines for ci yil work, the cfficers respon ible for it conduct had the pri\-ilege of holding an annual conference, at which tbey discussed matters appertnining t o the welfare and good

gm'ernment of the oraani-a ion oi which they were -L iu_:hproud. and which theY1ad lahoured to buil up at the pense of 0 much time and trouble. ThI:: conference W:lS in fact a "safety yah-e." .\ few \ears a':::J there W:l<:; a change in he COntrol. and -ince from we ea-rn there has been nothing but perty trouble and \'cxatiou: interference with thc cenduct of the ,-arious ccq: - :lod di"i ion incorporated in the brigade. The trouble commenced. we understand. at Birmingham. where a splendid corp- was alma t but for the ract of the execuriye of the local centre of the St. Tohn .-\.m bulance _-\. ociation. then a pirit of ume; ha -pread, and we hear vi defection- at Pemith. 'Yin ford. We rgare and other places. 'I-here doe- he la\' ? ' The 'Order of :::t. John ha [ ,)0 much at ake c. all 0": this splendid work to be wrecked in order to -ati-I\- he in-atiable "anit\' of any indi,-idual or indi,-iduu:, he nutse. when' we a -umed control of this J ourIJa: . we intimatcd tha it waour intention to carry it on in the intere ts 0 the two sen-ices who - e C:lU - e we ad\'ocated, and neither fear nor fa,'our will induce u to recedc from ha po ition. Ire intend to gi"e all due prominence to meritoriou- \\'ork rendered. but we -hall not L il to point out any abuses that we may di in the conduct of either organi arion. Both require an independent and out-poken journal, and thc conductor of thi- Journal haye cdinitely decided thar ir shall be run on the e line-.

"'RTTI)iC ro the daily pre-so an :\m erican say : I hU\'e before me ,reIis' report on the dis a ter. It is not an exaggeration to ay that were a jmilar -tatement made by any fire brigade chief in :imcrica, it would be followed by hi- instant dismissal and public derision. If you told an official of the Y ork department rhat a blaze in the heart of London resulted in an alarm being turned in at the neare t fire tation 'by a ca ual passer-by' ten minute later, that . the officer did not wait for the horsing of the reamer but, in ccmpany with ufficient men, too k the hose cart and e-cape and raIl round ro the scene of the nre.· that' the ladder apparatu was abandoned because it wa too short. and that tarpaulins \yere taken from pa- ing ' -ehicles to be u-ed a life nets '-he would frankly and ter ely tell you that you were lying. Such a thing would not eem pos ible." ,Y ell. they may do these things bener in but the fires in that country are u-ually of greater magnitude and il1\3.riably attended with greater 10 of life. * * * old friend "Dogberry" says, in hi co!umn in the

-FIRST

Cz't)1 Press, "In the chorus of praise that is being sounded with rega rd to the brav ery of Station Officer West the Queen Victoria-street fire, there is dang er of an unmt e ntional injusti ce being done to the officers of the London Salvage Co rps. Th e y we re first on the spot, under Major I"ox and it was on th e latt e r's initiative that th e rescu e by W es t was attempted. But for the order of prece d en ce being in favour of the brigade the Major's brave assistants would have stepp e d into the breach, and emulated West's mag n ifi ce nt act. As it was the risk they r a n was almost as g rea t as that for which \Vest is now being app lauded so d ese rvedly in all quarters. It is well that this should b e set forth cl early, not only for the rea son th a t th e heroes who took second place may be otherwise overlooked, but because a spirit of fairn ess demands du e recognition of th e promptitude and pluck displayed by Major Fox a nd th e men who work so loyally under him. " Q uit e so, tw as eve r thu s, and we gladly follow th e initiative of our valued conte mporary. We trust that Major Fox's claims to recognition will not be lost sight of. Although he always speak s of himself as an ordinar y salvage ma n, those who know him a nd a ppr ec iat e his work re cog nise in him a capab le, exper ie n ce d, and reso ur ce ful fir.:: chief.

T!IE:RE is nothing lik e faith in your own work. l \ ta r ece nt in spection of aL::mcashire Ambulance and Nursing Division (it was th e inspecting officer's ver) , first inspection) the honorary surgeo n, addressing the memb e rs, said, that had he been the i nspect ing officer h e should certainly have given them a good report. H e thought h e would not be wrong in say in g that with th e training th ey had und ergon e un de r their supe rintend e nt and their lady superintendent th ey had given the i nspe c ting officer such an exam pl e of amb ul ance work as would make it a littl e hard for the n ex t division that he had to insp ec t.

Presentat ion of South African War Medal

PRESENT.\.TlON OF SOUTH AFIUCAN MEDALS BY THE KING.-On Saturday, May 31st, in th e Thron e R oo m, at Buckingham Palace, th e King, as Sovereign H ea d and Patron o f the Ord e r of St. John o f J e ru salem, personally pinned th e South African M edal on th e tunics of thirty members of the Bri gad e who had seen service in South Africa. Th e rec ipi en ts who pa rad ed a t St. John 's Gat e, marched to Buckingham P alac e und er th e co mmand of Brigade Chief-Supt. Church Brasier, viz :-

Firs! Officers: Morrish, Bristol; Donnell ey Blackpool; W oods , Ip s wi c h. - S econd Officer: Ware, Derby.First Class Sergeal7 ts: Phillips, London; Wyllie, Ac c rington. -Sergeants: Bowdler, Sheffield; Collinge, Hebden Bridge; Gutteridge, Mark e t Harborough ; Hartley, Clitheroe; H oggart h, Hull ; Hunter, Kendal; Jackson, Oldh a m ; Kew, Leeds; Lloyd, Northampton; Parkinson, Preston; Tyld es ley, North Staffcrdshire Railway; Morrison, Hull. - Private.' : Clay, Bradford; Dixon, L ey ton ston e; ErJgland, TilJ s h e lf ; Francis, W e llingboro ug h ; Harrop, Rochdale; Leave r, N elso n ; Longmore, 'Varrington; Stone, S hep h erd 's Bu sh; Tollafi e ld, London; Wignall, L e ices te r ; Wint e rb o urn e R eading ; Joul e Bolton.

Pte. Wint e rbourne, who walked with a stick, was

asked by the King if he had been wounded whi le on act ive service but stated that his lameness was due to a severe kn ee got while at work on the field, and not from a wound His Majesty pleasantly wished him a speedyre.covery

The officers and m e n were afterwards enterta m ed to luncheon in th e Palace, and su bseq uen tl y the Provincial me mbers left for th e ir several d es tinations, one and all highly pleas e d with th e day's proce e din gs

ROCHDALE - An interesting ceremony took place on the Town H a ll Squ ar e on Saturday, M ay 31St, when the Mayoress (Mrs S. Turner) prese nted war medals to the m e mb ers of thc Rochdale Corps of the Ambu lance Brigad e who have served in South Africa.

Altoge ther 21 m e m bers of the Rochdale Corps (including the district divisions) hav e bee n at the front! and two of th e m are still in South Africa. Of th e r e mamd e r one-David Applegat e, of Newhey- died of e nteric fever in that country-and another-Pte. W. T. Harrop - recei ved his medal from th e King at Buckingham Palace.

A large concourse of p eo pl e assembled to witn ess the presentrltion of th e me dal s. N ea r th e to we r e nd of th e Town H all a square was form ed by a c ordon of police, and insid e this s pace we re th e m e mb e rs o f th e Ambulance Corps, th e re c ipi e nts o f th e medals, the Mayor and M ayo r ess, a nd the invit e d guests. Th e re wer e on parad e about 190 members of th e corps, including the c hi e f superintendent, M1'. L. Barr y; the chief surgeon, Dr. Sellers; th e hon s urg eons , Dr. W. H. Carse and Dr. S. T. Lord ; e ight officers, and abou t 16o rank and fil e.

The Mayor, in opening the proc eed ings, mad e an interes ting speech. Th e M ayoress presented the m e dal s to th e ambulance volunteers She pinn e d th e decoration to th e coat of each man. Votes of thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress follow ed . This e nd e d th e pr ese ntation ceremony. The m e m b ers of th e cor p s were again formed into procession. Hea d ed by the Police and Volunteer bands th ey marched to th e Parish Church School, wh e re tea was served to a bout 250 p erso ns. A social party followed.

R USHTON. - Th er e was a la rg e gat h e rin g of th e Briga d e in th e g round s a djoining th e H a ll on Saturday Jun e 7th, when Col. Stopford-Sackville prese nted th e m e dal s to te n of th e men who had r et urn ed from active service. In the co urse of his r ema rk s th e Colonel s poke of the splendid se rvic e which th e ambulance service had r end e red, and denoun ced in sca thin g ter ms th e vil e acc usations uttere d by So m e of th e Irish m e mb e rs in th e Hou se o f Commons that Lord Kit ch e ncr had wage d war against women a nd children in South Africa. At th e close of the ceremony cheers for th e King, Col. Sackville, and Mr. Phipps were h ea rtily given, th e D es bor ou?h Town B a nd pl ayi ng the National Anthem.

WARRI NGT01 . The M a yoress (Mrs. J . Charlton Parr) attended in th e Gymnasium, on June 5th, for the purpose of pr ese nting South African war medals to the memb e rs of th e ,Yarrington Corps of th e St. John Ambulanc e Brigad e. Th e Mayor presid e d and opened the proceedings.

The Mayor ess , who was warmly r eceived, then pr esented the medal s. A pathetic incid e nt in the proceedings was th e pr ese ntation of the late Mr. Maddocks' medal to his little so n. Th e M ayo ress pinned it on his br eas t, and th e scene was a ve ry affecting onc. Mrs. Maddocks was present, and was vis ibly mov e d.

Capt. Waring, Chief Supt. of th e Corps, propos e d and Col. Ridgway seconded, a vote of thanks to th e Mayor for pr es iding and to the Mayor e ss for prese nting the medals. The vote was carried with acclamation.

un e, ] 902 -F I RS T

Our Portrait Gallery.

LAD y -S UPT MR S P. L AVERACK , , CENTRAL N URS IN G DIVI SION , H ULL CORPS, S·lA.B.

THE Lady whose portrait we have th e to in our Ambulance Gallery this month IS \v ell known 111 ambulance cir cles in h er nativ e town.

Mrs. Lave rack, who is th e wife of th e es t ee m e d Town Clerk of Hull, commenced h e r training in ambulance work

AI D.- lIS

co nn ected with th e ambulance mov ement, we may mention th a t when it was suggested that a n ambulance 'waggon should be purchased for th e t own, she at once threw herself h ea rtily into th e work, and with her lady officers collec ted the n ecessary sum required.

At th e b eginnin g o f th e war she was again to the fore and organised a band o f workers who were instrumental in mak in g and sending out to our soldi ers at the front many articles of comfort.

In co nclu sion, we are only voicing the wish of all those who h ave th e pl eas ur e of knowing the subj ect of our sketch when we say that we hope for many years the Central ur sing Divis ion will hav e the valued aid she at. all timcs so r eadil y gives, for it is un do ubt ed ly to her kIndly and co urt eous nature, as well as to her untiring energy, that the movement has so well maintained its position in the bri gade. She h as made a host of friends the ambulance cause , all o f wh om have learned to apprecIate her for her genuine worth and h er love for the cause she has so much at hear t.

The Order of the Ho s pita l of St . John of Jeru s al e m in E ng la nd.

Tm£ GER:\fAN E:--IPEROR \'XD THE KIXG.

AFTER th e r econsecration of the church belonging to r estored Castle of i\larienburg, on Thursday, June Emperor Willi am sent the following telegram to kll1g Edward :-

in the year] 883, whe n she was enrolled as a stud.ent i n th e first class held in that tOWll, and on the formatIOn of the Hull Corps in 11386 she was a member of the mittee and she 11as even Sll1ce th at elate taken a leadJl1g par t its government. Under. her direction the Hull :t\ ursing Division was form ed 111 I895, and ,,:as unanimously r ecommend ed fo r. the post of Lady Supenntendent, a position she still to

As a proof of her an? the untmng ene rgy which s h e exhibits in connectIO n With th e we may mention th at th e divisional meetings can boast of an average attendance of 20 m embers at their various m ee tin gs 1

In 1899 Mrs. Lave rack, in of. h e r won, was appointed by H.M. th e la t e Queen '.I c ton a, on the r eco mm e ndation of the Chapter a nd CounCIl of the Ord er of St. John a n Honorary Serving Sister of th e Ord er, and in 1901 ha d the h onour of r eceivin g at the h ands. of H. M. th e Kin g, a t :Marlb or ough Hou se, th e Lon g Servlce M e dal of th e Ord er.

On th e occasion of th e m ee tin g of th e a nnu a l en ce of th e bri gad e at Hull in 1901, th e opportul1lty was taken by th e officers and m e mb e rs of co rps to prese nt h er with a handsom e dr ess ing-case and album as a slight proof of the univ.ers.al esteem 111. whlch. she held by thos e who wer e so l11tlmate ly associa te d With h e l 111 the work.

In h er own parish of St. Ja m es's she IS an worker amongst the poor, ready te nd slck.an? do what sbe can to alleviate th e Ir suffenngs, and.l11 It is needless to say she is ably back e d by th e nursll1g sIsters of h er division

As a proof of Mrs. Laverack's interest 111 all matt ers

Hi s lIajesty the King, London.. , The ceremony of the consecratIOn of Church of St. Mary, in the I aricnuurg, has just taken place, and was most impressiye. I beg once morc to thank you for your kind letter wh!ch Lonl Breadalbane gave me, and for the deputatIon of the Order of. St. J o hn which you sent over. It IS !lot first. tIme that Knights tread the s?ll of tl-:e .as tradition h ere WLll h:l.ye It that Earl, Henl y Bolmbroke (later H enry 1\'. ) came oyer WIth an of Enalish Knights and fought the SIde by with the Knights of the Teutol11c Order, under the guidance of their Grand lIaster.

(Signed) IIILHEDf LR. Kin g Edward sent the following reply:- T' His Imp e ri a l Majesty the Emperor and ktng, l\Iari enb ur g, Germany. . D e li a-ht ed to h ear th a t the consecratLon of the Church ;f St. lIary has passed ofr so well. .1Iost gra teful for your kind r eception of the of St. John o f J er usale m, se nt aft.er an ll1terval of so m any years. Th ey are 111 harmony peace side by side with the kl11ghLs of the Teutot1lc Ord er.

(Signed) ED \\'.\lUl R.

Th e re was also a n exchange o f telegrams between the Em e ror and th e Archduke Eu gen, the. Colonel th.e P Hid l' eu tscmeister R eg Im ent, whI ch IS Austnan oc 1 a n ) T named after th e titl e of the Grand l\I aster of the eutomc Ord er.

A co rr es )o nd ent suggests that as th.e l.,ondon Fire B · d It at present deal effic ie ntly WIth Its o\\"n work, nga e canno b 't 'tl '111 h ICC hould n ot a ttempt to em arass 1 Wl 1 < sService, but that th e la tt e r should "come under" the Hom e Offic e and voluntary effo rt. -

st. John Ambulance Brigade. METROPOLITAN CORPS.

UNYElLING A :MEMORIAL TABLET IN ST. PAUL'S C-\'THEDRAL.-In the presence of a large and distinguished company and a full parade of members of the Corps, there was unveiled in St. Paul's Cathedral, on May 3 ISt, a memorial tablet to the members of the Corps who have died on active service in South Africa . Prior to the unveiling ceremony the Corps attended the evensong service in the cathedral, conducted by the Yen. Archdeacon Sinclair and Canon Scott Holland. On parade were 30 officers, 291 men, and 60 Nursing Sisters. The Company included Co!. Bowdler, Chief Commissioner; DeputyCommissioner D. Belgrave Ninnis, Lord Knutsford, Brigade Chief-Supt. Church Brasier, Chief-Supt. Morgan, Co!. Royds, M.P., Col. Holbeach, and Leonard Stockwell, Esq.

The memorial tablet has been erected by the Officers and Members of No. District to the ten of their comrades -three sergeants and seven privates-" who died in the service of their country whilst tending the sick and wounded in South Africa during the \Var."

The Tablet wac:; formally handed over to the charge of the Dean and Chapter by Deputy-Commissioner Belgrave Ninnis.

In the course of a short speech, Colonel Bowdler paid a tnbute to the men who, he said, had laid down their lives so nobly and so gloriously These men bad done their duty well, and he hoped others would be stimulated - when they saw the memorial to emulate their devotion and heroism. Although a soldier, he considered Ambulance work a noble calling, and death on such duty a noble death -and preferable even to death in battle.

The memorial is of wflite marble on a dark marble base, surm.ounted by the Badge of the Brigade, and bears the :?1l0Wll1g :-Sergeants Pegley, P. \.V. Plumb, C. GIddens nvates E. A. HawklOS, W. R. Rlcllardson, B . D?e, J. T. Brock, W. Clements, J . V . L. Barret, S. SmIth. Several relatives of the deceased men were also present.

'?illiam Dunnerscombe, of 36, Pellatt-road, East DulwIch, at St. Pancras (Midland Railway) statIon, aCCIdentally partook of hydrochloric acid in mls.take for water. First aid having been rendered by JOSIah of the West London Section, St. John S Gate No. DIVISion, Metropolitan Corps, the patient was conveyed to the Royal Free Hospital. The doctor reported as follows :-" Royal Free Hospital London 15th, I902. The treatment of the \\ llham Dunnerscombe by Josiah Goodman was the best he have adopted, and materially improved the patlen.t s ch.ance of recovert It was of the utmost importance 111 thIS case that thiS man should be given at once sume such as tl:at administered by Josiah Goodman, Wlt?Out It the patIent would have been in a much ?lore condition, and might never have survived the 1mmed1ate effect of poison. (Signed) Dr. M. Morrel!."

PROVINCIAL CORPS.

.BIRM!NGHAM. - The following appointments in connectlon, WIth the St. John Ambulance Br igade, Birmingham Corps, have been sanctioned at headquarters by the Chief Commissioner (Colonel BowdleI') ChIef surgeon, Thos. Nelson, M.D.; chief superintendent,

June, 1902.

Fred. Gi l bert; super intendent secretary, J. R. Stamp; superintendent treasurer, J. H Rogers; superintendent of stores, A. R. Tozer.

Mrs Chamberlain will present the South African medals to the Birmingham City Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, at Highbury, as soon as Parliament is prorogued in August. Mr. Chamberlain, who will be present, has expressed a personal hope to see the men.

CHATHAM.-This town will shortly be in possession of a working ambulance corps, the inauguration of which took place on Friday evening, June 6th, at a meeting in the Minor-hall of the Town HalL under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. H. J T. Browne). His worship, in opening the proceedings, expressed his sincere sympathy with the proposal. Mr. Keightley, who had taken an active part in the proposal, gave explanations of what had been done leading up to the meeting After some discussion it was decided, on the sug,gestion of the Mayor, that the corps should be called" The Chatham and District Corps of the St. John Ambulance Brigade "

The appointment of a committee was next proceeded with, the following gentlemen being chosen :-The Mayor, Capt. J. Parker, Supt. Sargel"t, Messrs. R. J. Cooper, W. McIntosh, J. Rigden, J. Graham, R. H. Bow, Scott, J. Manington, and F. E. Smith.

On the motion of Mr. Rigden, seconded by Mr. Keightley, it was decided that Dr. Holroyde should be the first medical officer, and it was also decided that Dr. R. Grant, Dr. Jefferiss, junior, and Dr. E. C. Warren should be asked for their assistance.

ELLAND.-At a meeting of the Eiland Ambulance Committee, held in the South End Board School on Wednesday, June 4th, Dr. Gamble presiding, the preliminary steps were taken for the formation of a local ambulance division, and also a nursing section for female students. A further meeting in connection with the new sections is to be held shortly.

IpSWICH.-Among those who on the 31St May last, received the war medal from the King at Buckingham Palace, was First Officer T. Woods, of the 1St Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Ipswich Corps. It became known that the fortunate officer was likely to arrive in Ipswich by the 4.55 p.m. train, and many ambulance friends in the town gathered at the station to accord him a hearty welcome home.

On the arrival of First Officer Woods, the division formed up in the station yard, and headed by the hon. surgeon and the officers, marched to the Crown Inn, Bridgestreet, where a meeting of the Division had been conveneu.

Hon. Surgeon Eades, who occupied the chair, referred in happy terms to the pride whicll they all had felt in having sent two men, one of whom was a sergeant, to the front. He also pointed out what an enthusiastic worker amongst railway men First Officer Woods was.

Other speakers followed and the hon . surgeon was thanked for arranging the welcome home.

MANCHESTER - The Manchester and Salrord Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade presented a very smart appearance when formed up at their headquarters in Albertstreet, on June 5th, to be inspected by Distr ict Chief Surgeon Thomson. After going through a series of bandaging and stretcher drill, the inspect ing officer expressed his satisfaction at the fine display, and congratulated the division on their almost perfect efficiency.

June, I9 02

MORECAMlJE.-The annual inspection of thcsc divisions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade took place on Saturday afternoon, May 31St, in the Albert Hall. At three ,o'clock the men and nursing sisters, presenting a very smart and orderly appearance, assembled, and prior to the arrival of the Inspector, Captain Pooley (superintendent of stores, No. 4 District), were put through a variety of drills by Supt. Hargreaves. At the conclusion the Inspector congratulated the men and sisters, and said they had done very smartly indeed. That was his first inspection since he had been put on the staff, so that he could not compare them with any other division. He then proceeded to give the men some information anent dress, &c., which he said the regulations did not strictly lay down, but which, speaking as a military officer, he thought might be useful to them.

SOUTH SH1ELDS. - That most userul institution, the Nursing Division of St. John Ambulance Brigade, has done some excellent work at South Shields during the past ycar, as was shown by the highly satisfactory report presented by NIl'. W. G. Morant at the annual meeting. For a town of the size and importance of South Shields, however, very little support is given to this society, engaged as it is, in a humane and benevolent work. It is not for those of its supporters who have stood by it for so long to increase their subscriptions, but what is required at the present moment is the more universal support of the community. The necessity for, and usefulnes<; of such an institution cannot surely but commend itself to the public.

WATER.-The annual general meeting of the Wat e r and Waterfoot Divisions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade was held recently in the Wesleyan School, " -hitewell Bottom. .''\.lderman Schofield presided, and there was a <Tood attendance of members. The balance sh e et was and adopte d. The receipts, including a balance of £ I 3 9s. at the beginning of the year J 901, amounted to £53 9 s lId. On the 24th of April, 1902, there was a balance at the bank of £ 16s. 8d.

st. Andre w's Ambulan ce Ass ociation .

ABERDEEN. - .l\S may be r e membered, at a presentation of ambulance prizes to railway servants in the Trad es Hall, Belmont-street, Aberdeen, a few months ago, :Mr. R. A. Duguid, station superintendent, mentioned that Ml'. Littlejohn, Invercharron, Ardgay, had generously offered to present an ambulance van to Aberdeen Joint Station. On June 7th the van arrived at Aberdeen by the 1I.25 W e st Coast train from London, and will be placed in a suitable position on th e station platform at the earliest opportunity. After the reconstruction of the Joint Station, a special shed will be built for the van. This, it may be mentioned, is one of the several am bulance vans presented by Mr. Littlejohn to stations throughout the country, and it is very appropriate that Aberdeen should have a suitable van with all first aid appliances, seeing that the local railway ambulance corps is so strong, and has been doing good work in the past. The arrival of the van excited a considerable amount of interest among the railway servants at the Joint Station, and it will no doubt do much to cause the railway corps Lo take a still deeper interest in am bulance work.

DUNDEE. On Sunday, June 8th, an ambulance com petition in connection with the Caledonian Ambulance Corps was held in the waiting-rooms at the ] hmdee platform of the General Station. The competition was con-

A I D.-

fined to the holdcrs of certificates and medallions who attended the classes during the last session. Dr. Taylor, the lecturer to the corps, assisted by Dr. Carruthers, was the examiner. Four teams entered th e team comp e tition, but one had to withdraw owing to the non-appearance of the captain. The result of the competition in the transport section was that o. I team, captained by 11r. A. iVI. Fletcher, won the medals, the other memb e rs of the successful team being Hugh Campbell, parc el clerk; Georg e Clayton, engine-driver; and Stewart Clark, fireman. A competition also took place in the individual section. Fifteen competitors came forward. The prize for th ose holding medallions was won by William Carr, goods cl erk, who receives the Rossie gold medal. For thos e h oldin g certificates the first place was awarded to Frank Downie, ticket collector, and the second place to John Duncan, fireman, each of whom gets a silver badge.

PERTH CERTRE. - At a meeting of the Perth Centre Committee of this Association it was d e cid e d to ask Mr. John A. Dewar, M.P , to become vice-chairman, Sir Robert Pullar being presently chairman. The secr e tary, 1\1r. Thomas Logan, solicitor, Perth, was instructed to write NIr. Dewar, and he has no\" received a letter in the folio\\'ing terms from Mr. Dewar accepting the office :-

" Chenesiton House, Kensington Court, \Y., 9th June, I902. - Dear Ir. Logan, - I have your letter of the 7th inst., I am much obliged to your committee for the honour they have done me in asking mc to become vice-chairman of the St. Andrew 's Ambulance Association. I have great pleasure in accepting the position, and I shall always be pleased to do anything I can to help your very excellent institution.-Yours very truly, (Sgd.) John A. D ewar. "

TAY BR]])GE. - The members ot this corps met at Tay Bridge Station on June 9th, when the annual reports were submitted and passed. The secretary report e d that oy er 300 cases had been treated during the ycar, happily none of a serious nature. The following office-bearers were elected for the current year :- President, Dr. Lenn ox vicepresident, J. c. Grant, passenger guard ; secretary, P. Quarrier, clerk; captain, Alexander Gray, goods lieutenants, J. Niven, engine-driv er, and L. D. Kmg, passenger guard; committee, Messrs. Blyth, J. Boswell, J. M. Dott, Charles Grant, and D. HIll.

Billetin g, &c ., du ring t h e Corona t ion .

THB followin <T hostelries will afford accommodation, as far as possibl e, Ambulance and Fire men, who come to town for the Coronatton. Beds, or straw bcddlDg, cannot be had, and each man must bring his own blanket and be prepared for a "martial shake-down." Above all, he must be happy and behave hims.elf as a of Grace. The price includes supper on I1lght of ar.nval, breakfast and day rations and dinner the day followmg, ann breakfast next morning :-The "Baptist Head " (J. G. Robertson, S.J.AA) St. John's Gate, E.c., price 5S.; "Coach and Horses, " St. John's-square, E.C., price 5s.; " t. .John's Gate Tavern" (Mr. Hall), St. John's Gate, E.c., 6s. 'Vith reference to the "Important NotIce," on our first page, \YC may mention that up to moment of going to press we have found accommodatlO!l . for nearly onc hundred persons. One of our starf n::illed a!l the rooms offered, and we haye reason to belJeve they \\'til all be found clean and comfortable.

Our readers attention is called to the" First Aid" Club, particulars of which will be found on page 1 19·

St. John Ambulance Association.

C\STI.E .\sHIJY -The funeral took place at Castle .\sbby, ;{orthamptonshire on June 5tb, of the Marcbioness of orthampton. There was a large assembly of mourners, including the Marquis of Northampton, Lord Compton, Lady Margaret Compton, and Lord Spencer Compton, the Bishop of E ly and Lady A wyne Compton, LOI-d Alwyne Compton, M.P , Major Lord Douglas Compton, Louisa Caroline Lady Ashburton (mother of Lady Earl and Countess Brownlow, Earl Cowper, Lady Graham, 1\1r. C R. Spencer, representatives of the British and Foreign Bible Society, of which Lord orthampton is president, and the St. John Ambulance Brigade, I,ord Northampton being Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Many of the orthamptonshire and 'Varwickshire tenants were also present. The service was conducted by the Bishop of Ely. The coffin was em bedded in numerous beautiful floral tokens.

Ll!:EDs.-The members of the Committee of the Leeds Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association have invited Ernest W. Beckett, tI.P., to accept the posltlOn of preSident in succession to the late Sir 1\ndrew Fairbairn, who, at the time of his death had been president eighteen years. The honorary sec;etary (Mr. Walter Rowley) has received a communication from Mr. Beckett complying with the request. Mr. Beckett wishes t? c.onyey to the members of the Leeds Centre his appreclatlOn of the confidence and honour shown to him.

GLOUCESTER. - There was a large attendance at the Exchange on May 29th, at a meeting in connection

With Gloucester centre of the St. John Ambulance

1,\ssoclatlOn [or the of distributing the certificates, &c., won by students dUring the past session. Mr. r. M. Col.lett, Vresident of the Gloucester centre, was the Ch: llr.

Bowers, before proceeding to distribute the and medallions, said it was a great pleasure Lo to be to present and take part in that interpractical piece of work. .Some people might sa) "hat had an Archdeacon to do With am bulance work?

He \\'as a believer in the old principle of first what natural after. that what was spilitual. He wanted to take an Interest 1ll anything that touched the bodies or sou,ts of people in his Archdeaconry He was a great 111 the safety of the body and the safety and wellbell1g of the soul. Some people forgot there was a religion of ...\bout 2,000 men had been supplied for service III South African war, and the 'Val' Office had thought so highly of the work that they had called the Sl. J,ohn m.en " the horses of the war in and 111 connection w1th their work 500 ,000 tons of stores, war comforts, and appliances for helping the w?unded had been sent out. The Archdeacon then distnbuted the ccrtific.ltes, &c.

, proposed and Mr. C. H. Dancey seconded d ver) .vote of thanks to i\rcbdeacon Bowers, which With the Archdeacon ack n owledgmg. I he collectIOn taken in the room reali sed £2 7S

Soldiers of Mercy.

01< ' VALES IN CLERKENWELL.

love no man than this, that a man lay down hiS 11fe for hIS These are the fitting words on the memonal to five sergeants and fifty-six privates of J 01111 Ambulance Brigade To quote the further 1I1scnptlOn on the memor ial, the latter has been erected "To the glory of Cod , and in memory of those members of the St. John Ambulance BriO'ade who died of disease contracted while engaged in on the sick and wounded during the South African Campaign, I899-I902 "

The Prince of Wales, as Grand Prior of the Order of the of St. John of Jerusalem in England, attended service 111 St.) ohn's Church, Clerkenwell, on St. John's Day,. and unveiled the tablet. Prior to the service Holy Comwas celebrated by the Bishop of Gibraltar, one of the chapla1l1s of the Order. The Prince arrived at the church at J I.30' At the entrance he was received by the Chancellor (Earl Egerton of Tatton), Lord Knutsford Colonel Herbert C. .Perrott, Colonel Bowdler (Chief of the BrIgade), Co!onel palton, Lord Amherst of Hackney, and ot,her officers, and by the Bishop of Ely, the Bishop of GIbraltar, the Dean of Gloucester Canon Teignmouth Shore, Canon Beck, the Rev. Edgar 'Sheppard, Sub of the Chapels Royal, Canon Duckworth, the Rev. SIr Borrodaile and the Rev. T. W. Wood, the rector, and a processlOn was formed up the aisle to the front of the alttlr, where a pew was reserved for the Prince. The lIon. Derek Keppel was in attendance. A shortened form of Matins was used, and the procession was then reformed, and conducted the Prince to the place where the tablet has been fixed to the wall. The hymn, "Brightly gleams our banner," was sung, The Rect.or pointed the object of the St. John Ambulance Bngade, remark1l1g that altogether 2,046 of its mem accepted servi ce, of whom about sixty-six lost their lives.

The Prince of Wales then unveiled the tablet which it is state.d is " Erected by his Iajesty King VII., So,"erelgn and Patron, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Grand Pnor, and the Chapter General of the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England."

A bugler afterwards sounded the Last Post, and the Dean of Gloucester .afterwards preached a sermon, in which he refe:red to the of the Order. There was a great crowd 111 the street, which cheered the Prince as he drove orr·. Prev ious to taking his departure His Royal Highness VIS Ited the crypt', when Mr. Churchwarden Fincham had the. of explaining the interesting and historical antlqmty of the crypt and its contents

;3 E

Ambulance men of the town and country on the occasslon of great assem b lies in London have shown a commendab.le readiness to go up and take duty amongst crowds 1!1 the st.re.ets, an? at the coming Coronation no be wlllmg to go; but seeing the shabby way 111 whIch the authontles are dealing with them, it would n?t be a matter for much wonder if the case were otherWIse, Corps attending are expected to pay their own rai lway and expenses, and are to send on a sum of money to cost of food supplied to them wbilst own; whtlst, as meanness can st ill fur ther go, they aJ e to cove ri ng for the beds upon wh ich they are to sleep at n ight!

TlfE CORONATION

Ambulance Exhibition - AND -

'First Aid' Welcome Club,

10 to 13, BERKLEV STREET, ST. JOHN ' S GATE, E.C.

Admission Free to all Members of recognised Ambulance Corps and Fire Brigades.

Having in view the absolute dearth of, and necessity for, suitable accommodation for the Nursing Sisters and 1embers of the Services who will be called to Town for the Coronation [rom all parts of the Cou n try, the Proprietors of "FIRST AID" have, through the kindness of HOWELL J. Esq., L.Ce, secured the use of a larg e , new and handsome buildin g, adjacent to S t J o hn 's Gat e, Clerkenwell for the purposes of a "'Velcome Club," where Members can meet and enjoy the privileges afforded by similar institutions during the 3 public days.

Modern .\mbulance Appliances &c., by well-known firms will, as far as circumstances permit, be on exhibition.

'rhe Club \\-ill be suitably furnished by the well-known house of CRISP AND Co., even Sisters Road, Holloway, N.

The Catering will be managed by :\11'. J. G. ROBERTSON, of the "Baptists Head," who will supply all articles of Refreshment-Cold Joints, Sandwiches, Tea, Coffee, ,,'ines, Spirits, Beers, Mineral and Aerated ' Vaters, &c.-at a specially low rate

TO Fees will be permitted, and Membership (free of charge) is accorded to Members only of the ..: \ mbulance and Fire Services and they will have the priyilege of introducing a friend at the discretion of tbe officer who may be appointed in charge for the day. The officer in charge will ha\'e strict instructions to refuse admission or to eject any pelson not entitled to or abusing the privileges of this Club

The Club will be opened and closed a t such hours as will enable it to be of sernce to those who have to muster early, or who may be dismissed late from duty.

[ n the event of the weather proving unpropitious some such accommodation as it is proposed to provide would be urgently needed, if only on account of the Nursing isters, who must lea,-e home very early in the morning in order to parade in time. The Proprietors of "fIR T AID" therefore trust that their efforts on behalf of a corps of volu nteer helpers, to which the public owes so much, will be appreciated and made use of by those in whose special interest it is promoted

" FIRST AID, "

The Journal of the Ambulance and Fire Services. IS. 6d. per annUln, Post free. Offices: 44 =4 6 , Canilon St., E.C.

FIRST AID

A l D.- June, 1901

June, 19 01 . -FIRST

Our Portrait Gallery.

Where 's th e Blund e r?

THE terrible loss of life at the fire in Queen Victoria-street (four doors from the offices of FJRST Am) on the 9th inst., almost opposite a fire station and at a time of day when the City is fully alive and awake, should form a pregnant lesson not only to the authorities and the chief fire officer, but to all occupiers of offices or rooms situate above the height of the first floor. That ten lives should have been lost under such conditions is evidence that either the occupier is to be blamed for not giving immediate notice at the fire station and at the same time warning his employes, or that the fire appliances placed in the very heart of the City are inefficient and antique.

As the action, on this occasion, of Chief Officer ,rELL . is now, more or less, sub judice, it is not opportune to oiscuss the fitness of a Kaval Commander as a Chief Officer of a Fire Brigade, but, eJl passant, we do think that one \\'ho, so far as fire is concerned, has the charge of our lives should, at least, possess some practical knowledge of the construction ot our houses and the inflammability of the goods, &c., stored also as to the suitability of the appliances for dealing with the outbreaks, In this instance, a pair of hook or pompier ladders and three firemen with "life lines" and smoke helmets, and these are not exclusive articles, could have saved all these precious lives

Our fire and salvage men are strong and brave to a degree, but they cannot do the impossible. ,Ve did not see a "life line" on any fireman or appliance, and we do not think the L.F.B. has a hook ladder at any of its stations.

We should like to ask those in authority how, with the present escapes, they would effect a rescue from a fire that may break out at any moment in the many offices giving on to some of the "air and light wells» to be found in so many of the City buildings? they are veritable death traps, and the only appliances for saving life of any use whatever would be those we have mentioned. The City Coroner should extend his enquiry in this direction, and if the Building Acts do not give sufficient powers to the authorities to com pel the owners to remedy such evils as "blind alleys" and air shafts, then occupiers should be warned that their lives are in danger and be urged to make necessary provision for their own security. Modern domestic life saving appliances are plentiful and, above all, generally practicable and inexpensive, and e;:en pending the enquiry into this fire, we would urge all to look around and think for themselves and not rely upon the present system, or want of system.

America and Germany have many appliances of value which we should like to see adopted here, but insular prejudice, it would seem, keep them out of London. At the International Fire Tournament at the i\.gricultural Hall, London, in 1896, many of these appliances were shown, and we possess a photvgraph, taken 111 the Hall, of the Ruthin (North Wales) Brigade (under the gallant Captain Rouw) with a life line on every man, and hook ladders; chemical engines were also tested there, and Liverpool, \ye believe, possess more than one, but has T,ondon any? Our fire call system and ambulance provision is primitive and capable of much improvement, but our men are generous and capable. Cripplegate, Barbican, and now Queen Yictoriastreet, are fires which must not be forgotten and a lesson should be taken to heart.

Prize Competition.

WE believe in the spirit of emulation th::tt i. created by fair compctitions, and it is our intention to inaugurate a seneS that will, we hope, not only interest but instruct all those who have the Fire or i\.mbuhnce interests at heart.

A PRIZ E OF ONE GUINEA is offered for the best paper defining " Kno wledge Required by an Officer in Ch arge of a Fire Brigad e."

It may be assumed that the Brigade has all modern appliances and is located in a manufacturing and residential town of, say, 100,000 inhabitants.

Papers sent in should be written on one side only, and consist of about 1,000 words. They will be the absolute property of the Editors, but if a stamped addressed enveloped is enclosed an endeavour will be made to return any unaccepted.

All papers must reach the offices of FIRST r\.m by the 4th July The author's name and address must be plainly on the back of the last page of the MS. Suggestions are invited for other competitions.

B.-As the entries for this Competition an:, so far, not satisfactory, the date for closing has been extended to July 4th.

Volunteer Ambulance School of Instruction.

President: Major Andrew Maclure, V.D., late L.S.R.V Office: 23, Cambridge Street, Hyde Park, \"'1.

ORDERS:

The next class for the training of regimental stretcher bearers will commence in October. Application form::. can be obtained of Sergt. H. J. Bussell, J 3, Gowcr-street, W.c., or uf Amb.-Scrgt. C. Skillbeck, 6, Carlton-hill, K\V (By Order) P. 13. GI LES, F.R.C.S" Brigade Surgeon Lt.-Col., Senior Officer.

THE MOST HON. THE MARQUES. OF BRE,\DALBA);)£, KG., P.e.

THE nobleman whose portrait appears in our Gallery this month is well known as an earnest and enthusiastic "firstaider" and fireman and our readers both in England and Scotland will, we sure, welcome his picture in our J oumal.

The Marquess of Breadalbane, who was born .\.pnl

will be echoed by all who have had the advantage of meeting and knowing him, and appreciating his genuine sterling worth and thoroughly amaritan nature

Volunteer N ote s .

The annual competition for the ch111enge shield, of the value of 200 guineas, which is offered by the Y :0Icdical Association, to encourage Ambulance trammg m Volunteer regiments, took place or:- J une at Guildhall. There were nine competmg squads, 111cludmg one representing the 2nd Y.B. Royal Fusiliels (City of London Regiment), the holders of 1900 and 1.901. The examination comprised stretcher wagon drIll, band?ging, First Aid, anatomy, and phYSiology, and occupied about three hours.

The latest edition of the for the Royal Corps was adhered to throughout. The total number of marks to be obtallled was 350, and the general smartness and set-up of the men \\'as taken ir:to consideration in awarding the same; badges were gl\'en to the members of the winning and second squads.

The arrangements were carried out by Surge()n-)Iajor J. J. de (Hon. of the .\.ssociation), of the 3rd \T. B. East Surrey R,eglment, and the judges were Capt. J. Harper, R .• \...:-Le.\ ., urgeon-Capts. E. J. Callender, ]. Cantlie, e.. J. .il1art111, H. urgeon-Lieut. E. e. I\Iontg?mene- urgeon-Captam .-l. Thorne, and urgeon-Lleut.-Cols. Klallmark and :'1. Baine.

9 th , 18 5 J, succeeded to the 187 I; he was. Daron in r873 and ;,Iarquess 111 1875, In connectlOn mth ambulance \wrk it may be mentlOned that he takes an active and officia'l interest in both the St. John Association and also that of the t. .\'ndre'iY.'s Association, occupying the position of ASSIstant-Director and Deputy-Chairman in the former, and the post of President in the latter.

It was in the year 1898, on the occa of the annual conference of the St. Tohn Ambulance Bngade at Blackpool, where he occup(ed the position of chairman, the Marquess first known to members of the_ and it will be withm the recoliectlOn of al1 those \\ho ,,,ere present how thoroughl): his \\as appreClated by the officers and nursll1g officers ,Yith reaard to the fire serVice, It may be mentlOned that at his in Perthshire he has a priYate fire in which he takes the keenest I,n addItIOn this he is one of the Trustees of the ,\ 1<;10\\'S and Orphans of the rational Fire Brigades' "('1110n. Courteous and geniality itself, the ha bosts of friends among the two hum.a111tana:1 which this J oumal represents, and efforts to brincr the two ambulance mto closer connection with each other is a WIll ha\'c the approval of all working. first-aiders 111 the it come to pas, it \\,111 be, th.e .mean of the ambulance cause in Great Bnta1l1 111 a way \\111 for all time redound to his lordship's tact and urbamty.

In conclusion, we wish that for many yea:s to come both organisations may haye, ad:'antage of hI., unselfish and de\'oted labours, and thl WIsh IS, \\'e are sure, one that

Tine teams competed-and in eyer)' instance smartness and skill were exhibited. ..\..t the concluslOn It was announced that the trophy had been \\'on by tbe team of the 5th Y.B. H.L.I., from Glasgow a of 29 S} marks' the "rd Y.B. ,\'est Surrey Reg1l11en.t beu:g second with the 1 t City of London R.Y. thIrd, With the 21 t fourth, with 239}; Jst C.B., Royal Rifles fifth, with 237!; the 2:1d \ .B. Rorall',usllJers sixth, with 230§; the 1St Y. B Pnncess of ,\ ales s ,0wn Yorkshire RefTimeot se enth, With .z [I -tth DUlham Royal Garrisoon lWlth I8I}: the 2nd Y,B. Essex Regiment n1l1th, "lth 1-t:F'

The names of the team a:e :-Corporals and Hunter, and Pm'ates J. C. Brown and T. il1cFarlane. The hield and Badges by Brigade-urgeon-Lieut.-Colonel A Clark, "\ .D., F .R.e.

rl..\[B1:L.'I.:\'CE CuP 0111-

• C the \.mbulance Cup of the l\orth London petltlOn lor , Brigade Bearer Company to?k place at the of the 17 th :'Iiddlesex Rifles on ,aturday, June tho Only t\yO teams beIng bot.h from th: d B R 'al FusllIers. BrJCfade- urgeon-Lleut.-Colonel 2n ,. 0) 0.. db' Thorn son \\'as the Inspector U mplre, a Slste 3, Sur etn-Captain W N. E\'ans, Bngade Bearcr-Compan) , g d I the result No team was awarded the Cornman er. n . b ' d fi t Place with 26r marks; the team emg cup an rs, d I:.>t T' fTha 11 C 1 11Tatkl'ns Bethel Burndge an e. nnto < 1 orporas 11< 1 , h ff t C'lbburn in charne of t le tca111.-1 , O. - Wit ta - erg. < to p d "'8 marks' the members bemg [lyates team recen e 2.) c, B' G d ,. Stokes and ,Yood \\'Ith crgt. rent \l1 Plum 00 \\lll, C I I f C I I n' J Brown C. B. Honorary 0 one 0 charcre 0 one I.. he to h ted the cup to the \\'1l1ners at t the 17 t pres en conclusion.

The History and Developement of Manual , Steam and Motor Fire Engines.

By CHAS. T. CROWfJEX, M.LCE. :\1.L./l.F.E., :\LS.A., &c., &c.

(Cont/Illted from page IO.)

TILE next Steam Engine (Fig. J 7) made in this after a penod ?f nearly t,Yenty years, "'as COl1by James. hand, according to his patent in 8.J 8, tned at the Grand urrey Canal in thc same ) I.hIs appears have been a single cylinder engine \\orkmg m a round gUIde forming one of the pump pistons A small double thm-IV crankshaft fitted inside pump

1902.

valves that were capable of pumping ducks if requi r ed seem to think it impossible for them to come through the

FIG. 17.

of the pump pistons. This type of engme and pun:p was apparently not very R . ' and about this tIme, I believe was sold to th b Government, .and the last heard it was that th: Fe;; er B e.xploded. TI:ls engine was used by the London 86eo. ngade and wIthdrawn for one of another type in Fig. 17 A shows a section of the same engine.

FIG. 18

straine. r first, so the . f necessIty 0 the large yalv-es and capacIOus water wa) s f d required. were a terwar s found not to be

Fig 19 sho b ws an engme uilt by Nlessrs. Merryweather

FIG. 19.

m 1862, and called the "Torrent" b . cel.ebrated dIstiller, Hodges of h used by Ft?e BrIgade of h' w Th'· W 0 ran a Ire IS 0 n. IS engme \yas similar to the

The engine shown in Fi 8

Messrs. Merryweather in J 86 g. 1 was constructed by Edward Field the' 1 , and was desIgned by Mr mventor of th F' Id B . consultin b r7 engineer and" 11 d hIe oller, then their I ,das ca e t e "D I " T cy mder and steam cylinder p' t e uge he pump rod, the valve motion b' IS ons were on the same piston There is no doubt thI'S em& by a tappet motion f ' ename did a d o \\ ork at the time't b cons) crable amount claim that a s low and the ma k e rs

nlI1g cng1l1C with a pump having

FIG 20 " "b e uge, ut was fItted with a tappet motion f modern type. 0 a. more

Fig. 20 shows how the .' Torrent)) appeared • Il1 1863, '\ r

Fw . 2 J hav ing been r ebui lL a n d fit t ed v t I1 h tewe ll-kn o wn twi s t-

June, 19 02 -FI R bar motion, another invention of Edwanl Field's, and was the forerunner of a type constructed by until 1880.

Fig. 2 I shows the "Torrent" with the hose box removed and also a section of the cylinder and ,-ah-e gear

National Fire Brigades Union.

Dc:.\TH LEY\, The result of the , call" for the benefit of the l:J.te Fireman .'tephen Collins of Fa\-ersham ('. E. District), who left a ",ido\\' and' Fm: children, re -ulted in £2'!. 15 being subscribed.

Fll;. 12. which was used before the introduction of the twist-bar motion,

T Fig. is « utherland," of 186 3, with double cyllt1der engine fitted with tappet motion. This engine WilS the brgest team Fire Engine built at this date and competed at the Crystal Palace trials.

Tbe nllm ber of entries for the Great Fire Brigade Tournament to be held at from July 5th to 12th 1S \-ery satisfactory. Thirty brigade are taking part· 21 ha,-e entered for the one man drill, 22 for the four men drill, 16 for the -ix men drill, and 8 for the ambulance competition. I3 for the steamer, I2 for the e cape and 26 for the hose cart, and these we think most creditable, and we a record. lYe hope eyer)' brigade possible will support president, the Duke of on July 1 I th, aml fine weather, a most pleasant and instructi,-e gatherl11g 1S ensured.

Brigades or indiyidual mebmers wishing to obtain cheap through railway tickets to and back on the occasion of the Tournament, July 5th to 1'2 th, hould write at ollce to l\lessrs Alfred J akins and ('0., Ltd., 99, Leadenhall-street, London, E.c., who will issue a limited number of cheap return tickets between London and :\IaJ-gate by the New Palace Steamers, 4-S 6d. fir t class.

Fw . 23·

Fig. 23 shows a Steam Fire Engine built by Cohen in I863 fitted with crankshaft and has flywheels at the back of the cylinder. Beyond the fact that this engll1e '\'as built, little of its history i known.

(To be COli tiJllted.)

At a mcctil1J:i of the \Vatching, Lighting-, and Fires Committee of the Aberdeen TO\\ n Council on June 13th-Councillor Lyon convener it was remitled to the COlwener and Firemaster I nkster to procure sketches of the proposed merit medals to be awarded to members of the fire brigade for distinguished conduct in the saving of life, and to submit them to tbe ne:-;t meeting of the committee.

'3 -:

THE B.\RBlC-\X Fm.E. -Tlzt' .£ll1strait'all Tratl/II/!: {{'odd, says: In view of our opinions on this conflagration expressed in our issue of the 1St May, it is interesting to read Captain Wells' evidence before the City Coroner, coinciding, as it does, in the main with the "iews expressed by us He attributed the rapidity with which the flames spread to the high wind, and also to the fact that the formation of Australian-avenue constituted a blow-pipe on a large scale. He deprecated the use of concrete in the construction or roofs . i \ nother great difficulty in connec t ion with the fire in question was, he stated, the fact t h at Jew Zealand-avenue was a {Ill-dc-sat. It was his i nte n tion to make a repo r to the City authoriLies upon t h e dangers of (II/-de-m{s.

The autumn rneeting of the l\Iidland District will by kind permission of the Executiye Commitlee be held at the Wolyerhampton Exhibition on Thursday, 4-th eptember A fireman's day.

OlJTH 1fwL_\Xll DI , TRlCT.- 0 better testimony to the popularity of the Hampton Fire Brigade and it respected captain, R. G. Graham, could be adduced than the 'plendid success which attended the annual gathering of brigades in the outh Midland District of the 1 ational Fire Brigades' Union on May 18th. We sincerely congratulate the gallant captain and the parish upon this gratifying fact Graham is not only chairman of the executiye of the outh :\fidland District, but also of the Widows' and Orphans' Fund, and the decision to hold the demonstration at Hampton this year wa a compliment alike to him and his brigade, which has of late years been so con picuou 1)' successful in the yarious competitions at these annual gatherings.

The officials for the day \I ere as follows :- Inspecting

Officer: Sir Eyre l\Iassey haw, KCB. Judges: l\Iajor Finn, Lydd: Capt. Dyer, \ lton: Capt, Miller, Ley tonstone: Capt. Gardner, Stroud: Capt. Mace, Chipping

To rton: Supt. La Croix, Brighton Judges for \ mbulance

Competition: D r. \Y illiam Ettles, Chief Officer of ,, \ mbulance ])epartment; I )r, Greene, Bury st. Edmunds. Timekeepers: Capt. Hodge, l\Iolcscy; Capt. Hell, Kingston:

FIG. 17A

-FIRST

Capt. Dyson, Windsor; Col. Dixon, Sutton; Capt. Goslin, Sutton; Capt. Davison, Malden. Registrars: Mr. H. S. Folker, Guildford; Mr. E. W. Tabor, Reading; Second Officer C. Negus, Bedford. Masters of the arena: Capt. Graham, Hampton; Capt. Restler, Southwark and Vauxhall. Time markers: Mr. W. T. Cadmore and Mr. A. E. Basey.

r n giving unstinted praise to the whole of these gentlemen [or the excellent manner in which they carried out most arduous and exacting labours, we must also associate " 'ith them Capt. A. Hill, of Bedford, honorary secretary to th e South Midland District, who with Capt. Graham bore the brunt of th e work co nnected with the general arrangements for th e day.

Th e committee " 'ere fortunate in securing the presence of the Duchess of Marlborough to distribute the prizes Her Grace, who was dressed in grey cloth, trimmed with cream lace, and black hat, drove into the private enclosure about 3.30, accompmied by Lord Churchill, Sir Eyre Massey Shaw, K.C.B., and Miss Winifred Graham, and was receive d by Capt. 'G raham and several other of th e princ ipal of?cers of the brigades. After graciously accepting a beautIful bouquet of red and white ros es and lilies of the valley, she \\'as esco rt ed to the front of the enclosure from which a good vi e w of the com petitions could obtained.

The Du c h ess of Marlborough having to leave b efore th e co nclu sion of th e co mp e tition s, there wa s a break about 5'3 0, during the progress of the last two items o n the car d to allow of the presentation of the pri zes by h e r Grace: Th e firemen were drawn up in line in front of th e privat e enclosure, and hundreds of spectators swarmed across from the opposite side and took up a position in th e ir r ea r to wat ch this in part of th e day s proceed ings

At conclUSIOn of the ceremony, Sir Eyre Massey Shaw bnefly addressed the men. H e said: Offic ers and Firemen of the South Midland District of the National Fire Brigades' Union, I have to congratulate you very warmly on th e excellent appearance you have all her e to -day, and espec ially on th e way in which your hav e been turned out. A certain number have got and hav e we ll deserved them, but all th e others are entIt led to very bigh commendation. As a very old fireman .long before some of you were born, and having in my lifc-tlme at tended 55,000 fires, I have received the greatest gratification from what I hav e observed. It shows the great care a nd attention you must have paid to your drill and machinery. I hav e to add that her Grace, from whose hands you have had th e honour of receiving these prizes, charges me to say th a t she has been greatly pleas e d with what she ha.s seen, and that it has given her much pleasure to be amongst you this afternoon.

R.ev. Pr ebendary Ram, in the nam e of Hampton and the and of all th e places in the South Midland. dlstnct, thanked the Duch ess for her kindness in commg them and distributing the prizes. Her presence had given a great stimulus, and deservedly so, for there was no p a nsh that had a better fire br igade or one led by a better captain.

The proc ee dings then concluded with th ree lusty cheers for her Grace, and one cbeer more each for the ,of Sir Eyre Massey Shaw

1 he Motor FIre I\..ll1g, ar. automobile steam fire wa s se nt for display by M e rry" eath er SO.ns. Tb e Flfc Bngade supplied som.e mt e rlud es th e afternoon, by giving ex l:lbltlolJs of rescu e work mth pompier ladder s, all of whIch were very smartiy performed and heartily applauded.

AI n.- June, 1l)02

Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

One of the most terrible London fires of recent years - terrible because of its suddenness, its completeness and th e serious loss of life involved- took place at 5 on Monday, June,. The death -roll shows that eight persons penshed 111 the flam es , one succumbed to suffocation and one di e d in Hospital-ma king the deaths number ten; while seven people were injured. The scene ot the fire being in Queen Victoria-street, a few doors from the Mansion House (District) Railway Station, City.

The flam es were first seen in the engineering-room on the second floor. Many of th e employes are girls, who were at work on the fifth floor, and in spite of the efforts of the firm's Fire Brigade these unfortunate young p eo pl e were unable to effect their escape by the staircase and a scene of the wild es t excitement ensued .

Many of the workers in rooms were unabl e to escape, and. mad.e for the windows, shrieking and frantically gestlculatll1g for help Help almost imm ediat e ly was at hand in the shape a Fire Escape from Watlin g-st ree t, but, alas, to. the SIck horror of all spectators-large numbers havll1g by now gathered on the spot-it was found to be too short!

Almost simultaneously a number of men dashed up to a van which was passing and stripped from it th e tarpaulin with whi c h it was covered. Th e happiness and th e emergency of the id ea drew wild c h ee rs fr o m the crowd, and many rush ed forward to take a hold on the improvised jumping-s h ee t. The s hee t was th e n b e ld under the burning windows. Thr ee of th e g irl s jumped first. The firs.t .caught th e sheet, two others jumped togeth er and co llldm g came down lik e bundles of clothes - breaking from the sheet on to th e pavement. Wh e n admitted to St. Bartholomew's Hospital th ey we re fo und to be dangerousl y burt, and late r on the same night one di ed. But ther e were many who wer e stupefied and, consequently, made no efforts to escape.

Fox (chi ef of th e London Salvag e Corps), th e men had no chance of getting into the third floo.r wmd o ws, and seeing, as all co uld see, that the roof Itself was not yet alight, ordered short scalingladders to be fetched and leading the way with Engineer of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, and a handful of hIS own Salvage Corps men, made his way to th e rear of th e premises, re -app ea ring shortly afterwards on the roof in t he front of No. 68 - which was to th e right o f th e premises afire. To do so th ey had had to climb from th e attic roof - not visible from be low-on to th e slooping roof of the fifth storey, the coping of whi c h o\'erbangs very considerably the roadway beneath.

It .was obvious to the spectators that one of the group was gomg to try and effect an entrance from that point. so it turned out. Four of them crawled along the COpll1g as near to the fire as was safe. An insulat ed electric wire was then attached around Engineer WelJs who was then-amidst a thrilling silence-lowered by comrades down to the burning window to the extreme right. For a second the man seemed to d a n <Y le in mid-air. Setting up a swing, he gained the windo: into which amidst the first wild cheer, he disappeared.' Th e ment was intens e 'Vest was soon back at the window with a gi rl in his arms A great cheer rose from th e crowd. The young w?man was. tak en from him, and again W es t entered the wmdow, whIch appeared to be nothing but a square of flame and smoke.

For the second time, and amid sccnes of t he most

June, 1902

-FIRST

wild excitement brave West brought out of the burning room another girl, and then, h e himself, had to be hastily drawn up in a half-suffocat ed condition from th e theatre of flame and d eath.

On the pave m ent in Queen Victoria-street, artificial respiration was resort ed to in th e case of two girls; doct ors were in attendance from St. Bartholomew's Hospital and other places. Two Hospital Nurses and assistants from the medical department of the SalvatIOn Army (whose Headquarters were close by), and members of th e St. John Ambulance Brigade were also present and render ed every possible attention and assistance to the two young women. One of th e two recove red; but all efforts with the other were unavalhng. Some twenty Steam Fire Engines got to work, and after strenuous efforts extending over nearly two hours the fire was th o roughly mastered. The London Salvage r end e red splendid assistance in saving property and m getting the private hydrants of th e General Electnc Company to b ea r on th e flam es , but des pit e their erfOl ts it is estimated that damage to the extent of £50,000 was done. Th e City Police were in good numb e rs and well reg ulated th e crowd.

Pro v incial Fire Brigades.

BRIGHTON.-On June II th the new fir e escape and hos e te nd e r combined, recently acquired by the Corporation of Brighton fo r the Poli ce Fire Brigade was to th e Town Hall for insp ect ion by th e Wat c h Comrmttee, whi ch was well rep rese nt ed, includin g th e Chairman (Councillor Greenyer),. Alderman St. John Blaker, and Alderman Clark the ChIef Co nstable (NIr. W. B. G e ntl e), also being Fire Superintendent Lacroix was in charge. At the Town Hall th e escap e was detach ed fr?m th e t e nd er in a fe w seconds and run to the top of th e budding, and th e firemen ascended a nd their comrades down. Superintendent Lacr?lx explamed th.e uses of the machine and its simple workmg, and CounCillor .Greenyer and Committee generally, commended the supenntendent and his men upon their work. Their performance highly creditable, because th e m en had had no practIce with the new appliance, having only once had any experi ence of it.

BURY ST. EDMUNDS.-At Everard's Hotel, th e m e mbers of Bury St. Edmunds Fire Brigad e, other friends assembled for dinner on J un e 6th. Chlef Officer H W Tracy presided, and sub-Captain C. F. J.:'elton was VlceChairman. After the toast of "The Kmg and Royal Family" had been loyally honoured, sub-Captain in proposing that of " Th.e Army and referred WIth pl eas ure to the proclamatIOn of p eace L1eut.-Col. C. n. Leech as a retired Volunteer officer, who had bet!n nearly 27 associated with military matters, also expressed pl eas ure that Briton and Boer had shaken hands.

AI D.- 12 5

combined Escape and Hose-cart, and it was named "Edward VI!." on Saturday, 24th ult. A larg e crowd mu ch admired the Es cape, a nd the Fir eme n wanted to test th e water (ba th), but th e C hairm a n of the Council and Capts. Mill er and W oo llard thought they would be out of their elem en t.

LIVERPOOL.-Th e third annual outing of th e Liv erpool Fire Brigade, organised by Chief Superintendent Thomas, took place on June 9th. Th e exigencies of ,thei r calling rend ered it impossibl e that the whole of the bngade should take part, and those who were unable to be off duty on Monday will e njoy a pic-nic later. The party, to th e number of about thirty, left the landin g-stage at half-past 9 for Wrexham, where an excellent dinner was partaken of at th e Seven Stars Hotel. Subsequently they drove to Llangollen and back, a capital tea being provided at the Eagles Hotel, Llan go ll e n.

POLEswoRTH.-A dinner in connection WIth the Polesworth Fire Bri gad e took plac e J 4th, at the wynd Arms." Mr. C. H NIoms preSided. The Chairman in g iving th e toast of "Success to .the Polesworth. Fi re Brigad e," spoke as to the good work It had accomplts he? Mr. Jas. Deeming (captain) responded. Mr. Adcock 111 proposing" The H ealth of 11r. Morris," r:ferred. to the loss they would shortly sustain thr ough hIS leavll1g the neigh bourhood,

'VOL VERHA;\ IPl'ON .-On Thur sday, June 5th, a deputation from th e Stourbridge Fire Brigade Committee visited Wolv e rh ampton for th e purpose of hampton Fire Brigade's latest eng111e GreenWIch Gem at work. The d ep utatIOn inspected t?e. tempo rar y station in R ed Lion -s tre et, and by p:rmlsslon of th e ChIef Constable (Captain Burnett), Supenntendent. Stokes gave a false alarm. Th e horses were on th e premIses, but the men were at th eir respective hom es, unawar e of the ment. In one minute from th e tlm e alarm was given th e horses attached to the engine, were 111 th e street, an d were speedily driven by Chief-Engineer Thomas to old Exchange site, where steam was The brIgade worked with three kinds of jets, and "nth one of th em water was ejected almost to the height the. Old flagstaff. The wind at the time was agamst hIgh throwl.ng. The engine was work ed by one man th e whol e of th e time-the chief e ngineer. The deputation expressed themselyes hi g hly pleased with what th ey saw.

That well-known fire chief, H. Mill e r, of .the L ey ton nd Ley tons ton e Fire Brigade, writ es: "I heartIly welcome advent of FIRST AID as an ind ependent)ournal f?r the fire and ambulance services, a nd I am sure p,I,o\'e a n ecess ity to all those e ngaged in those orgamsatlOns.

• :e

With reference to the motor fire engine at Worceste r, h · h b 'llt by Chas T Crowden, of Motor Works, w 1C was u ". d b bl Leamington, for the Norwich Ul1l0n, w.e ar.e gla / a e to contradict the various reports rega rdmg Its unsatls 'k' The engine was put to a ve ry severe tes a \\ or mg. lb' nd er steam from 1 p. m. I\Torcester on the 30th u t., emg u. D' h' t 'al t'l 1 a m without the slightest hItch. unng t 1S n LEYTON AND LEYTON STo NE. - The opening of the un 1 " was drawn behind to various parts of th e new baths, and the christening of a Fire Escape. at Ley ton, tl:e g the capabilities of the machin e, and the whol e on the same day and at the same place, surely, lS an event an e ntire success.

lLFoRD -Ca meron Corbett, Esq M.P., has lately presented a first-class Hors ed .\mbulance to the Ilford Fire Brigade, and the first time it was Supt. Woo.llard had to take the case to the London HospItal, as there 1S no regular Ambulance Corps in that lar ge suburb.

Ley ton has just ASK YOUR NEWSA GENT TO S U PPLY " FIRST AID " EVERY MONTH

Letters to the Editors.

QUEE JSLA I D AMBULANCE TRANSPORT BRIGADE.

IT will be well within the recollection of our readers that we have from time to time given an accounL of the \'arious aml?ulance services in. other countries, notably that of the States, for whIch we were indeb.ted to John C. .Brasler, the brother of the esteemed Brigade ChIef Super1l1tendent of the St. John Am bulance BI iaade and also the Pa:'is system which was kindly up 'for us by its emInent fou.nder, Dr. Natchtel, but we feel a personal pride 111 reproducll1g a letler from 1\11'. R. Nye Stevens, giving an accoLlnt of t!le Ambulan.ce or Transport Service of Brisbane. i\I1'. Stephens claIms that his service is the most up-to-date service in the \yorId, and we feel he is and even we Britishers will feel a p:trdonable pride 111 admIttIng that oLlr sons across the sea ha\'e \Ve hope from time to time to publish statIstIcs supplIed by !VIr. • ye Stephens, and perhaps the go-ahead methods adopted by Bn"bane may arouse our lethargic authorities at home.

Gli;NTLK\IE T [ have the honour to acknowledge the letter datedl\1arch 4th, and to thank you for the kIndly Il1terest you e\ ince in this institution.

, The asking for thc inforlllation you desire is a larae order as Items of chicf intcrest to you might sufficient .attentlon from me unless a lengthy letter were written, and t!le Annual Reports there IS \'cry little printed 111. c\ ldence to assist me. The brigade is still 111, s\\'addlll1g clothes, and whilst, to outsiders, we ha\'e glown to our present stl ength and utility by infantile leaps and bound s yet, to those enthusiasts who have steadfastly worked in its interests, the extension of its operatl\ c arc a and, the Illcreascd \'olume of business has been brought about 111 a most matter of fa c t way by what mio'ht be termed a gradual eyol\'ement. b

U ncler separate cO\ er wi II be forward cd Ann ual Reports &c, ,TI?-e figures contained will assist in giving you geneialidea of our posltlOn annually from our inception to the end of [901.

that you intencl to publish extracts from this and some idea of the value of your spac:, It OCCUI s to me that It would be better to write a fairly fullleport, ancllea\ e It to to use the portions best calculated to command the attentIOn of readers. Asking you be good enough to forward two copies of whatevcr you are kind e,nough to gl\ e to, the \\'orld, I will outline the way in which the became eXlstant.

" idea of establishing a local civil ambulance at the call of,e\'erybody at any hour originated in the brains of a .,workll1g men, most of whom were then mcmbers of the l!llsbane Corps," now known as the "Medical AI,111Y Corp,s. , were happening everyday in the stleets of Sick people were being transported to our hospItals ,111 oldll1ary cabs or spring carts and yet tl were men trained for amb I 'k h r'· 1ele u ance W01 ,w 0 lor obvlOus reasons could not use knowledge .to benefit those thus afflicted. necessity for organisation appealed to these few. were held, With the result that in December 18 92 meeting took officers were duly appointed and the mfant institution was launched under the title of the City !\mbulance.and Transport Brigadc," I At fi,rst, was a1:tlclpated that the necessary service could )e perfotmed m a strictly honorary sense, The idea was tl men:bers who were out of employ should attend the centre given number of hours daily, and be rcady to instantl to emergency (aCCident ) calls. In a liLtle while eve,t, demands by the ,Public were so frec uent )eciall) for transportatl0!l of the ,Sick, that it was )a one man to devotF. hiS whole time to the brigade and in .Id to funds to meet this added expense a' appoll1ted to canvas for subscriptions.

The disastrous floods in February J 89" I' I l operations of tl I' 1 , .),)1 oug lt t 1e le )ngac e more directly under public notice and about thIS time the first Ashford litter (local I)"tt ) '1' 1 <L ein was XII

A 11).- JlInc, 1 SJ02

for. brigade use. T.he first cases had been carried on an orelll1ary stretcher With shoulder straps, which, in this warm clllll.ate, proved ,very heavy work, so that the advent of a wheeled carnage was haIled \o\'ith delight by the staff. Later in the year an,other man, \\'as engaged, and 1893 closed with 400 " calls" to brigade credit.

were very low, and bad it not been for the kindness of Co., who gave quarters rent frce in the Couner to accommodate the staff and plant, the venture must have faded and cbed.

It th.en occurred to the members that if influential citizens could be mterested sufficiently to give the institution their moral support, that the general public would more readily respond to made for finanCIal assIstance. Invitations were Issued, WIth the result that a Governing Committee of t\yelve (sll1ce reduced to seyen ) was elected.

The yea.r [894 passed, "calls" still increased, and a second wa.s bUIlt, and Jr! June, 1?95, a third was ac1c1ec1to the plilnt. ,'l..t thIS the paid staff mcluded the superintendent, three bearers (assisted by an honorary staff of six ) and a collector.

I.n September, 1895, the committee realised that the increasmg demands of the public necessitated the occupancy of

J une, 1902. -FIRST secured Then, when the probability of ambulance extenSIOn to other populated centres demanded consideration it was that it w!l-s essential that better working be obtall1ed, and SIr Horace Tozer-then the Hon. (the Home 'Secretary, now Queensland Agent-General in London) was approached by my committee, and, as an outcome of numerous conferences, this gentleman, who had always believed in the brigade because .of its and philanthropic possibilities, became a splendid advocate 111 our favour, and by his advice we were gazetted under the "Hospital Act" in November, 1 8 97, thus becoming entitled to the financial assistance to hospi tals frol11 State funds, and also, of course, obtalnmg the hall mark of approval, which doubtless assisted to increase our revenue by voluntary subscriptions.

Sir Horace Tozer objecting to the leasing of more important premises ( by this time made imperatIve by the increasing "calls ") a piece of land, in close proximity to the principal wharves and in the heart of the city, was purchased, and a building designed in which it was proposed to develop to the utmost ambulance methods.

The centre contains a plant room, offices, stables, diningroom workshop and kitchen on the ground floor, with board and lecture-room, store, bed, bathrooms, and library on the upper floor, which also contains lluarters for superintendent.

The ground, with the building, fittings and furniture, and plant since acquired, has cost over £ 5,000, and not only has the investment fulfilled all expectations by making it possible to respond to emergency calls in a few seconds, and permit of the constant training of an ever-increasing staff, but it is most pleasing to be able to record that in less than four years after the foundation stone was laid by Sir Horace Tozer (February, 18 9 8) the whole of the indebtedness has been \\'iped out, and debt has become a bug-bear of the past.

The Ninth Annual Report will gIve details respecting the formation of the various branch centres, All of these are becoming recognised as public conveniences, and are being supported in a way most gratifying to the original committee. The wish for further extension is as keen as ever, and it is not difficult to prophesy that in a few years ambulance conveniences will be extended to other centres of population, and honorary members of this institution will be founel, e\ en in the smaller communities, who will be willing, even anxious, to be of service to the suffering and maimed,

A I D.-

th!l-t the student has them more firmly impressed upon his ,I conSider M r, Spencer has done a most valuable \\'ork 111 the attention of teachers to this point. In a recent pI:elll:ull1ary competi tion for selecting a team Lo reprcsent a distnct ll1 one of the great ambulance eyents of the country, I was a spectator. There were three teams competing. A case of supposed ruptured varicose veins was given; all the three teams by dl rect press.ure and elevation; one only was content With thIS. One applied pressure also on both sides of the rupture; tbe,?ther applied it on one side (the, one as It I he man who was content \\"lth SImple expedIent was one who had actually had a case to treat and knew the resulL that would follow his action; the others were theoremen up in their book work. To emphasize the dIfference agall1: the final question was the treatment and of a case of supposed compound fracture of the tilia. [wo of the teams had to.urniql:ets on the femoral artery; the other one was content With a sll1g1e dressing on the \\ olll1d and the usual support of splints. But the transport The t",o teams, great in tourniquets, left their patient in order to take post correctly at the stretcher, and then to march upon the wounded man. The other team never left him but lifted him at once and placed him on the stretcher wh'ich was placed On enquiry, 1 found that what I\'as requi red was an expOSItion of R.A.M,C. dnll, and the lattcr mcn had made a mess of it I am glad to note that the R.A.l\LC. manual for drill purposes use sound patients. \Vhat but disaster can come of teaching squads to drill at wounded men. 1 on ce actually saw done It is to be hoped that, the newly formed association of honorary surgeons will re c tIfy some of these theoret.ical errors, upon which so mu c h \ alue is placed for examll1atlOn purposes. 1 must add another \rord for the practical team :-they did IIot know their book word, the answers to whIch were beautifully given b y the other two teams. I believe it wa s Punc/t who, in the early days of First Aid, depicted the lady in the face of an accident wanting- to run home for her certificate think s he s inned almost less grievously than the highly trained squads referred to. But after all the great question is, " Are \ye instru c tors to turn out practical men or theoretical smart ones?" I t is to be hoped that the authorities \\ ill not foster the theoretical spirit by examinations of this order, actually marking well men who act \\'rongly, that high marks in c ompetit ion may be secured.Yours, &c.

largcr premises, and No. 10, IIayes Buildings in an adjacent street, was leased,

The calls received during 1896 ( 2,43°) more than doubled those recorded for r895 (1,148 ), In a sulky, with detachable gear for towinoa litter, was, built, horse was purchascd and tl:us the fatJgue ll1curredm travellll1g to an accident wa's obVIated T!le result was most satisfactory, and proved also economIc 111 every sense of the, word. The work provina too much for one horse, another was bouaht in May 1897 fI.:st horse ,was a wbite one web made whi'te our' coloUJ, so that m all subsecluent purchases J't becam , 't I ' e an un- \\ nt:n to whIte horses only. [he ll1creasll1tf had necessi tated the use of hOI ses and sulky. [heIr advent meant the erection of stablin a1,ld sulky shed, and once more premises became and the danger of mefficlency through cramped conItlons becan?e apparent to all concerned.

the existence of the brigade and its low finanCIal conditIOn had been brought before the notice of tl GoveTment, and late in 1895 our usefulness was recognised an enc of £ TOO, and later a Government subsidy of £r for £1 on all voluntary contnbut lons was promised, and

Because of extension to other towns of this State, it was suggested that our old title C.A.T.B.H. be altered to " Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade," and as the olel rules did not provide for the governance of branch, sub. or honorary centres, these have been lately amended and approved by the various Governmental departments. I do not suppose that these rules would be of any use to you, neither would our byelaws, otherwise I would forward you a copy of each, I n looking back to the first months of our existence, one can now realise the difficulties surmounted at a time when we were practically bankrupt, not only financially, but also morall),; that is, in the opinion of the majority of the citIZens, who laughed at our endeavour to work under most inadequate conditions, and honestly enough, no doubt, looked upon the workers as men" who meant \\'ell" but" were a little mad, you know."

That we have succeedeel in winning the confidence of the public is patent, and think that this has been done principally because all concerned, committee and staff, implicitly believed in, and were enthusiasts for, ambulance benefits, so that, as difficulties arose, there was unity of action, which in time engendered a perfect confidence and trust from and to the staff; and the knowledge of that trust has materially assisted in maintaining discipline and developing our resources in l1,any ways. Tu be COIlIt'lIIted.

H£MORRHAGE: DIRECT PRESSURE, THEORY AND PRACTICE.

Dl!. \ R SIRS,- I do not think there has ever been any other teaching on the subJcct of hcx:morrhage than that 01 primarily applying elil ect pressure. The confu ion bas arisen from the fact that at examinations so many questions are asked as to the methods to be adopted for arresting h;:cmorrhage,

\Y. D COCI(ILL Hon, Surgeon, r'::endal Di\'i s iol1, S.J. ,\,B.

BlJRl\'S AN 1) SCALDS, DE.\'R SIR S, If such contributions as Dr. Ettles' in May issue be continued, FIRST AID \\ ill certainly be a boon to ambulancc students.

I trust 11 is remarks re Carron oil will be re cognised at St. John s Gate in future issue of text books.

In support of Dr. Ettles' article I may mention tbat J. Campbell, l\I.D., l\Iedical Officer of Health, one of the lecturers of the Glasgow centre, has advocated the cotton wool first-aid treatment to his classes for the past fi\'e years 1 have nearly every ambulance text book published do\\'n to the latest ( " vVar\\'ick and Tunstall ") and in e\ ery one Carron oil is gi\ en as the treatment. Thanking you in anticipationYours, &c. \V:\J. COL\\ ELL-JO:;\ES.

Official Organising Commissioner of Ambubnce Classes, Gloucester Centre, 15, S. Catharine-street, Gloucester.

June 2nd, J 902

RE WA TT OF EFFICIE " T Al\lJ3ULANCE SER\'[CE. DE.\'R note a letter in your "\lay issue from "Nox" in regard to this subject. There has also for some time past bcen various suggestions upon this subject in the press. TOI\' I think if the follo\\'ing arrangement could be put in force it would meet many of the requirements 111 strcet accidents. IvIy idea is simply-

First. - To have attached to one lamp-post in each of the

128 -171 RST

large thoroughfare junctions, both in the City and Metropolis, such as Oxford-circus, Piccadilly-circus, Ludgate-circus, &c., an ambulance box or shoot, similar to that supp lied by i\Tessrs. and Hranso.n, Ltd:, Leeds, containing 11 doz. I in., 1 doz. 2111., doz. 3 111. white open woye bandages; 1 roll of lint, triangular bandages, book, scissors, plaster, splints, ( at back ), fi\'e bottles for sal. voL, liniment, oil, &c. The size of this box is about 1 ft. 8 in. x 8 in. x 2i in

Secondly. - That each lamp-post to which an ambulance box is attached should ha\ e frosted g lass with a red cross painted thereon, so that it would stand out prominently amongst its fellows, both night and day. A small frame with a glass front, for the key could be fixed at the side o f the box

Perhaps some of the authorities who happen to read this will endeavour to place something of the sort at the service of the public.

There are, without doubt, many ambulance men continually passing along and through such places who could immediately attend to any accident if proper appliances were at hand. Yours, &c.

22, Annadale-roac1, Chiswick, :'I1a)' 26th, 1902.

HORACE \ V. COTTON. No. 14 Division.

SOUTH AFRICAN MEDALs.-The general distribution of medals to the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital Staffs and to the firemen of the ational Fire Brigade Union will take place shortly, as soon as Lady Howe can make the nec essary arrangements

Visi; ?f the F.B."SJ. to Yfargate, July 5th to 12th, 1902. - I nce 6d.; pubhshed by the Chamber of Com16, Trin.ity-square, M argate. This is a nicely rrInted and well lllustrated gUlde to Margate, giving particulars of all that should be seen and the drives that shoyld be taken by all ambulance and fire men who are takmg part in, or visiting, during the tournament.

Hav.ing i.n the big fire which recently took place 111 .the Clty, lt IS llldeed surprising that fire alarms and sprInklers .are not tak e n more advantage of in warehouses factOries where valuable stock is stored, and which are of access to the fire brigades Is it that damage by IS not treated as a "fire loss " by the insurance compallles? In accepting risks, insurance companies always survey tl:e if they are at all hazardous, the premIUm .1S stIff, but In lIke manner more conside ration should be gIven to those who insta ll any preventative system-and there are many.

A FIRE ESCAPE.-As bearing upon the disastrous CIty fire, a. very ingenious apparatus was tested recently the hIghest floor of the °Hotel B urlin g t on l}ov er, With excellent results. This apparatus is and on the principle of the breeches life-buoy wlt.h ropes to etlable it to be attac h ed to a ny artIcle of furnIture In the room. The inventor and pat t MEl f h H en ee , r. e ey, manager 0 t e otel Burlington, claim s th at by tl1lS a!1y number of persons may be lowe red from the hl.ghest in or e lsewhere with persa fety III a few fhlS IS certain ly the time for pnvate fire escap.es, especIally in hotels, as visitors-an d a,bove and Co lon ials com in g over for the ( ?rOnatlOn WIll want sOI?e other assurance than tbat Ol.,forded by the London FI re B ri gade.

GARROULD'S

NURSES' UNIFORMS, CAPS, GOWNS, BONNETS, &c.

AS SUPPLIED TO

The Principal Hospitals and Nursing Institutions and H.M. War Office.

PATTERNS free of the Washing Cotton Materials as used ill the Lo ndon and Provincial Hospitals ncluding REGATTA CLOTH, CLIO HOSPITAL CLOTH, MELVILLE CLOTH, HECTOR DRill , HALIFAX DRILL, MILO GINGHAM

Estimates given for all kinds of l{eQui Sites, Ticks, Sheetings, FlannelS, Calicoes, &c.

lI'ritl' .lor till: 'tOW /,dilioll if Oarrould's Red Cross Nurses' Catalogue (Regel.).

" itlt 3"0 Jllustratiolls, post r,·ee.

E. &R. Garrould,

150, 152, 154, 156, MS, 160 Edgware Rd., Hyde Park, LONDON, W. Telephone, 347 Faddingtoll. Te1c",cry-cwLS: "CaiTo/tid, Loudolt.»

COUPON TICKET

SPECIALLY GUARANTEED BY

The Ocean Accident and Guarantee CorporatioD,

LIMITED , 40, 42, & 44, MOORGATE SThEET, LONDON, E.C. (to whom of Claims, under the following conditions must be sent WIthin seven days of accident to the above address.)

£100

will be paid ?v above Corporation to the legal representative o. any.one IS lolled by an accident to the Passenger Train (within the l! mtecl I'-.lngdom or I s land s), in which the deceased was a bearIng or paying passenger, or who shall' h ave been fatally Injured thereby (should death re su lL within ninety days after such accident).

PROV I DED thaL the so killed or injured had up on his or her person or had left at home ticket with his or her usual written. prior to the accident, on space p'rovided 'below, whIch, the giving of notice within the time as hereinbefore mentIOned, IS the essence of this contract.

This good for current iss ue on ly, and car ri es the benefits of and IS subject to, the conditions of the "OCEAN AND GUARANTEE COMPANY, Limited, Act, 1890, RI Sks Nos. 2 and 3

The Corporation admit Lhal the purchase of this Paper is the payment of a premIUm under Sect ion 34 of the Act.

No person can recover unde r more than one Coupon LickeL in respect of the sa me risk.

To

As it is th e earnest \I ish and desire of the new Proprietors to make this Journal as attractil-e and entertaining as possible, correspondents in all parts of the count ry are a keel to gi"e it all the help they can.

Superintendent of Corps and Officers of Diyisions of the St. J oh n Amhulance Brigade, Officer. of the ','olunteer :'Iedical Staff Corps, the Yolunteer .i \mhul ance School of I nstruction, and Chief Officers of Fire Brigades will, it is hoped, do their best to make it known amongst the memhers of their re spect ive organi. ations, and will also send for publication their official news and notices. Suggestion are il1\ itec1 for Prize Competition and o ther matters I\'hic h II ill advance the int e rest of the Journal.

"r e particul a rly desire to ask our correspondents to he hrief and to the point in any cOlllmunications they may send uo for publication.

\\ e are please d to record the fact that II-e are already receiving a great accession of su pport from all parts of the country, and as our space is somell hat limited, in dealing \vith reports of local meetings for presentation of certificates, &c., it would be better tha a brief report \I ere written, giving a short resume of the I"at'ious points touched up o n 11)" the principal speakers, rather than that a lengthy newspaper report should be sent giving in detail the whole record of the meeLing. This report is doubtless interesting to local First-aiders, but it l11U t be borne in mind that lie are catering for th e Ambulance and Fire Brigade 1\ oriel at large.

TERi\IS OF SUBSCRIPTION.

For 12 months, IS. 6d., post free, to be sent to the Publisher, :'1 essrs. Dale, Reyn olds and Co., 46, Cannon-street, London, E. C. Te1e.l{rapllir _.Jddress-" TweJlly}ollr, LOlldol/.'· Telephone NO'-'-I77 .Rail!..'.

Brevities.

,YITH the advent of what is known as "the holiday season," we have simultaneously heard and read, unfortunately, of accidents by land and water-accidents on our rivers and at the seaside figuring very prominently amongst these disa trous occurrences, which but too often are brought about by pure carelessness and the non-observance of the most ordinary precautions. The holiday tripper, or a very large proportion of holiday trippers, when holidaymaking, seem to throw prudence to the winds, and lamentable it is to know that many, very many, of these accidents might be classed in the li st called ,e preventable " Yery appropriaLely, therefore, at the present time, the Royal National Li reboat Institution, of 14, Jobn-street, Adelphi, London, \ V.c., issues, as a large-sized leaflet, a copy of instructions for the restoration of the apparently drowned. The leading principles of the directions are founded on

those of the late Dr. Hall, combined with those of Dr. H. R. Silvester, and are the result of extensive enquiries made by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution amongst medical bodies and coroners throughout the United Kingdom They are in use in his 1Iajesty's Fleet, in the Coastguard service, at all stations of the British Arm)' at home and abroad, in the Lighthouses and Vessels of the Corporation ot the Trinity House, the :\Ietropolitan and Provincial Police Forces, the Metropolitan 'chool Board schools, and the St. John Am bulance "\ssociation. These instructions should be universally known, and a copy kept by all establishments who cater for the public at the seaside.

As the coroner is still holding his inquest on the disastrous fire in Queen Yictoria-street on the 9th June, and as the evidence so far given is not of much moment to practical firemen, we will not waste the time of our readers or our space, but at the right moment we will give a resulllt> of so much as is of interest. In the meantime, we would suggest to the coroner or, if it is beyond his prm ince, the .Fire Committee of the L.c.c., who we understand are going to hold an enquiry on their own account, that they should invite two or three chief officers of Continental Fire Brigades and, say, one American, to give their opinions of what should haye been done and what we ought to do in the future. 'Yh ere life is concerned insular prejudice must be thrown to the winds; and, are not Englishmen supposed to be practical. * * *

THE prize we offered for the best paper defining the " Knowledge Required by an Officer in Charge of a Fire Brigade" has not secured an entry of any merit. lYe belie\ e one of our junior clerks could have written a better essay than any of the thr ee sent in. But we haye set men thinking, and it is evident that at a near date we must oursehes deal ,vith this subject for the benefit of our readers.

ALL firemen who haye been to Paris and know anything of the French brigades will appreciate the good works of 1Ionsieur and Madame Rabany, the former of whom is one of the permanent officials connected with th e Ministry of the int eri or of France. These good folb were to have come over for the Coronation, but in consequence of its being deferred, and the fact that 1Ionsieur Rabany's father was undergoing a serious operation, their visit to London was postponed. Arrangements, howe\'er, had been made by a number of Members of Honour of the

-F IRST

fr-:nch Fedcration to entertain. Monsieur and Madame Rabany on the occasion of their visit. Of cour: e, our e\'er-active and genial friend, Capt. rom ])yson, of \\ mdsor, kindly took the helm. Hc secured the well-known steam launch" Princess Beatrice" for June 29th, the only day a\"ailable for the guests, and arranged a first-class luncheon on board and a trip up the ri\'er, also a banquet at the White Hart Hotel, ,,-indsor, on the return. In consequence of contracts enlered into, and notwilhstanding the absencc, for reasons above given, of the guests, the programme was carried out. :M uch regret was expressed at the absence of Monsieur and Madame Rabany, and Major Fox, who presided at lhe banquet, eloquently expressed their sympathy with that gentleman for the cause of his absence. The only toasts at the banquet were those of ee The King," " Our Guests," and" The Ladies," and they were well gi\"en and enthusiastically received.

St. John Ambulance Association.

BOURXE:\IOVTH.-At the meeting of lhe General Purposes Committee on the 20th ult. a deputation from the Bournemouth •\.mbulance ).l.ssociation, consisting of ])r. B. 1\ankivell, Dr. Simmons and Messrs. Austin and Bridge, attended and offered to the Council, on behalf of the .\.ssociation, the .\.mbulances and Shellers owned by the Association for the sLIm of £50, prO\'ided they would undertake their future care and maintenance. They also asked if the Corporation would consent to pay the capitation fee of 4S. per head for mechanics trained in Ambulance classes?

The Town Clerk was instructed to obtain information from other towns as the provision of Am bulances and the support of the Ambulance classes

l\Ir. G. E. Bridge wrote asking the iayor and Corporation to attend the Annual Am bulance In spection, on July 30th, and asking the Council to grant the use of the Lower Pleasure Gardens for the occasion. This being agreed to.

CLE\ ELAND.-During the past few months Dr. Shand and Dr. Watt have been holding classes in Guisbrough in connection with the pa , Vood miners, the tradesmen of town, and lwo classes for females. They were examined by Dr. Burnett, of Saltburn, and all passed fot the Medallions, with the exception of the ladies' classes, who went through their second examination Over 100 students were examined, and the Examining Officer expressed himself highly satisfied with the way they performed their duties. He also complimented the Instructors- Dr. Shand and Dr. Watt, upon having coached them to such a high state of efficiency

Dr. Burnett also examined ahout fifty students connected with the Spa Wood Mine Class who li\"ed at the examination taking p ace in the Margrove IJark Board Schools.

F1SHERG,\TE --A presentation of Ambu la n ce Certificates. i.n connection wi lh the St. John Am bu lance ASSOCIatIOn took al the Fishergate Baptist Schoo ls, on Jul y 7th. Dr. Ir Vlll Sellers presided, and after handing

th e Certificates to the successful men, on behalf of the Class, presented to Dr. l E. Holden a small r ec?gn ition of that gentleman's services as In structor dunng the course.

HA)l"DSWORTH.-,A letter has been received by Chief Superintendent H. Beck from Sir Herbert Perrott,. Chief Secretary of the St. ]0110 Ambulance ASSOCiatIOn, stating that he has been requested by Yiscount Knu.tsford and the Central Executive Committee to state that It has heard with much regret of the death of th e Presidenl of the Handsworth Cenlre, Mr. J. H. Pearson, whose valuable services will long be remem bered With deep gratitude.

The members of the Handsworth Centre of the St. John Ambulance Association met in large numbers at St. James's Schools, Handsworth, on the 9th inst., to give a hearty welcome to 11'. l E. Pearson, J.p., who has accepted the office of President of the Centre, in succession to his father-the late Mr. l H. Pearson, lP.

The Rev. T. S Cave said it was some comfor t to them in the sad loss they had sustained to know that the son of their late I)resident had succeeded him in office.

Dr. Darby Weston, on behalf of the medical profession, also gave the President a cordial welc?me.

The President, who had a hearty reception, promised to do all he could to further the work of the St. John Ambulance Association in Handswo,·th.

A large number of Certificates were presented to members who had passed the First .i \.id examination, a ft er which the Class through Sergt. Hall-made a presentat ion to Dr. Croll, their Instructor, of two standard works on operative surgery; and also to Supt. Harkness a gold scarf-pin and stud in recognition of their valuable honorary services. Tlle gifts were duly acknowledge by both gentlemen.

HELPRINGH,Ur. -The members of the late Horticultural and Ambulance Classes held at Helpringham, have p resented the Honorary ecretary--Mr. Thompsonwith a handsome soliu silver inkstand bearing the following inscription :-" Presented to George Thompson by the parishioners of Helpringham, as a mark of esteem, Jun e 26th, 1902." :'1r. Thompson, who was delightfully surprised, replied that the work performed by him was a pleasure, and done without the slightest idea of reward.

1)r. Lowe, of Lincoln, was the Ambulance examiner.

RUDSTOCK.-The First Aid course of Leclures recently given by ])r. R. G Worger, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., &c" r esulted in I7 passes and 5 failures, The following are the names of the successful pupils :-Madames Emily Martin, Bessie Worger, Alice Langley and Agusta Ashman; Mademoisells Sarah l Shurer, Alice 11. Han'ey, H etty Aylesbury, Isabella Pilgrim, IVlaud Chapman, Louie Bird, Frances Bird, Maggie Bird, Louie Hariss, Emma Poyner, Julia Abrahams, Edith Bird and Louie Bryant. Efforts a re being made to start a Brigade, when it is hoped, at least, some of the foregoing ladies will join as nursing s isters

\Ye understand it was I)rivate Flowerday, of the St. Paul's Ambulance Stal ion, who rendered "fi r st aid" at the Queen Victoria-street fire on the 9th June, and was ab ly ass isted by Major Andre\\' Maclure, V. D., late o f the London Scottish Vo lunteers

Our Portrait Gallery.

CHIEF LEONARD ROCHD,\LE CORPS. BARRY,

TH E subject of this sketch, who holds the important position of Chief Constable of R?chdale, has been a devotee of the am bulance cause S1l1ce 1887, when he qualifieu for lhe first aid during his connection with the London MetropolIlan ] ollce

His career has been varied and lllterest1l1g. After ten and a half years London experience, he was Superintendent, and second in command, of the \\T1gan

A I D.- 3

was gained locally, yolunteered and were accepted for outh African War, including three constables of the Borough Police Force. All returned to Corps ranks on completion of term, except one private who died of enteric at Bloemfontein.

Thanks to Mr. Barry haying a capital set of officers, notably Sup'" Garner, of the Rochdale Division, the Corrs is growing in numbers and efficiency every year; 111 addition to weekly exercise in practical work, the members evince great enthusiasm in performing special duty where\"er large concourses of people assemble, and haye taken an active part in competitions with hi;:;hl)' satisfactory results

The police, under the control of )'Ir. Barry, work 111 unison with the Corps, and this system has, undoubtedly, tended in no small degree to the success of the ambulance cause in this busy manufacturing district.

Mr. Barry is also Captain of the CorporatlOn FIre Brigade which is responsible for horsing two up-to-date Horse 'Ambulances, fitted with quick-hitching harness. The horses are specially trained. , It would be a lession to Londoners to see a horse trotting out of its stable to the Horse the harness being dropped on its and leaymg the statlOn with driver and anolher officer 111 forty seconds. And, a still further lesson to London would lie in the fact, that in the Rochdale County Police Di\"ision, through the strenuous efforts of Police Superintendent :'lcQueen, e\'ery district is now supplied \\"ith a Horse fully equipped. It is a sufficient for their efficiency to mention that they bUIlt by )'Iessrs. Wilson and Stockall, of Bury, LancashIre.

There are also in various parts of the Borough wheeled litters, and a special mn is kept for the remo\"al of dead bodies, thus obviating the use of the amb.ulances.

Borough Police Force in May,. 1897 Twelve. months later found him selected from a 11 t of thIrty candidates for his present position - at lhe early age, of thirty-two. It may be of interest to auu that. the (ount)' Borough of Rochdale comprises a population of over 83,000, and covers an area of 6,58+ acres.

In conclusion, we may say that since hIS adYE'nt. 111 Rochdale, he has made a host of :\'ho his honest and sterling worth. He IS a stnct but the men under his command are assured of hIS justness and integrity, and hence he is popular grades. Among Ambulance wo:kers IS dcsenedl) popular as he takes the keenest Illterest 111 the we anticipate for the Rochdale and COl pO' a \ el) prosperous future under his able gUldlI1g hand.

Co ncident with his arrival there, 1\Ir. Barry was appointed Hon. ecretary and of the l?cal of the St. Tohn i\. mbulance .l\ssoclatlOll and ChIef upenntendent of the Rochdale Corps

The Centre was formed in 1886, and has done yeoma n service in keeping the l1l0yement in a state of constant activity. .

Lieut. J. O. Williams, R.X., late inspecting of Coastguard at .\'ldeburgh, has been award.ed and gold decoration the Fre.ncb HUl11amtanan <?ldle du De\'oir," in recogmtlOn of hIS rescue of CItIzens, on the recommendation of the of the French National Life Saying SocIety 111 England. The distinction was handed to Lieut. WiJliams by Per,c y G Mocatta, at the request of the SenIor I of the French National ociety, Baron de Santa The Corps, formed on J uly loth, 1893, then comprised eighty all told, and its progress may be from th e fact that the strength increased by fifty-four dunng the At St. Tames'S Palace: July qth, the Prince of year 19 0I , and now totals up to I3+· l)uring Mr. Banfs 'Wales preset;ted medals and certificates of hon?u.r rC<Time divisions of the parent Corps bave been fon:ned 10 by the Grand Priory of the urder of the H03P:tal t. districts of Casllelon, ?dllnrow, John of Jerusalem .in England. .l\.w ards for life or and Norden, all of which are dOlng \'ery useful \Yo.rk, attempting to sa\'e ltfe ,,'ere presented to '\,lll'l e all 01hcr is i n emblTo at Littleborough. N ursmg r sen ICeS to d and others, after which a\\-ards lor Divisions have also becn at an theambulance department wcre ha11lled by \nnce Milnrow and CasLleton contempbtcs Sllmbr attainment. ancl Lad\' Knutsford, Col. Sir C. 1 Bart., R ochdale contains a \'ery large number of cotton and Col. C. I30\\'dler, Lieut.-Col. C. J. Inmble, LIeut.-Col: woollen mills and factories, in which many of the \\'ork- S Elliston, Mr. Stuart C. \\' ardell, B.elgta\ peop e a r e" first-aidel:s" and members of the local C;0rps; Ninnis, r.Tr. C. H. -:\Itlbu,ln, ' :'G[1. and materials a re proYlded for lhell' use 111 boxes contIguous W. l Church BraSIer, LIeut.-Col. h lIolbeche, M1. \\. to th e mills. Barnes, Jun., and -"11'. "\I T. H. Iorgan. Tw e nt y-one mt::n wh o e knowledge of ambulance work ___ _____

ASK YOUR N EWSAG MONTE.

St. John Ambulance Brigade.

PROVINCIAL CORPS.

ACCRINGToX.-The annual inspection of this Corps took place on June 21St at the \' olunteer Drill Hall, Deputy-Com. Derham being the inspecting officer. He expressed himself highly satisfied with everything he had seen, and hoped that the Corps would make as much progress in the future as they had done in the past. This Corps took part in all the local Coronation celebrations, also in a cycle parade on Saturday, June 28th, taking a collection fIl rOllte in aid of the Hospital, Nursing .\'ssociation and Ambulance Corps.

BIR::IIL\'GHA::II.- The reports of the ambulance men on duty in the streets of Birmingham and suburbs on June 26th (Coronation Day) which were submitted at the usual weekly parade on July 7th, show that 54 men were on duty with 12 hand-stretchers, and one wheeled litter. First aid was rendered in 34 cases, viz , faints, 22 fits, 3 minor casualties, 3; contusions, 6 (one case removed to the Queen's Hospital). Some of the men were on duty fourteen hours. Chief Supt. Fred Gilbert was in charge. There would ha\'e been many more cases of faints, but the men had a plentiful supply of water, which they handed freely to the crowds of sightseers.

ORTHA;\[PTON - ,\ ith a view to encouraging the members of the Torthampton Corps to keep up and increase their efficiency, and to further the work of first aid in the Northampton centre, it has been decided to hold competitions for a challenge trophy and prizes, the first competitions to be held in August next. The President of the centre, the lost Hon, the. farquis of Northampton, Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John, generously promised to provide a cup, and this handsome and valuably trophy, which was specially manufactured by the Goldsmiths ' Silversmiths' Company, Regent-street, has now been received by the local hon secretary, Mr. H, T. Frac)", and has met with general admiration. It is a solid silver, two-handled cup, elegantly fluted, after the style of the Georgian period, and having a scene chased in bold relief, representing. an injured man being attended by a mem ber of the bngade . The cup is 13 in. in height, and stands on a pedestal designed to bear shields inscribed with the names of the mem bers of "'inning teams, and bears the following inscription :-" Ambulance Challenge Cup. Presented to Northampton Centre, St. John Ambulance Association, by the :rvlarquis of Torthampton, President, 19 02 ."

The committee of the centre will provide prizes for the wmners and second and third teams

A i.n roller bandaging, &c., for members of the nursmg dlVlslOns will also be held, prizes for which ha\"e. been generousl): given by J. Cooper, Esq., J.P., VicePreSIdent and Chiurman of Committee, orthampton Centre.

SOUTHPoRT.-In connection with tbe Coronation festivities, 17 members of the division under the command of Supt: Wyeberley, turned out on J 26th for the trades processIOn and fancy. dress cycle parade, and five cases rendered first aid to. Two of them were taken to the mfirmary? where one was detained. The men on duty were enterlamed to tea by the processions committee at Baker s restaurant.

On June 27th they were again on duty for the Sunday schools' p r ocession, in which over ro,ooo children took part, and over 50 cases of fainting and slight sunstroke were treated, three of the patients being remO\·ed to their homes. They also rendered valuable service in giving the children drinks of water when feeling overcome by the heat, which was intense After the procession the men were entertained to a first-class tea by Mr and Mrs. Higson at their residence, Avondale Promenade. Their kindness was greatly appreciated by the men, and at the conclusion Supt. Wyeberley proposed a hearty vote of thanks, whicb was seconded by Private F. A. Dobbins, and replied to by Mr. W. D. Higson on behalf of his parents.

On June 28th 12 men, under the command of Sergt. P. Wright, turned out on duty for the "old English gala " and fancy dress cycle parade, and five cases were treated, one being a fractured forearm At the conclusion of the gala, the I\rayor (Chas . Scarisbrick, Esq., J.P.) said he had also publicly to thank the ambulance division, which had proved itself very useful on the previous evening and on several other occasions, and he felt he was only doing his duty in expressing their deep indebtedness to them for humane services.

St. Andrew's Ambulance Association.

GLASGOW - The Nineteenth Annual Meeting of the St. Andrew's Ambu lance l \ssociation was held in the Masonic Hall, Glasgow, on July 8th. The Marquis of Breadalbane presiding. Among others present were Bailie Sorley, ex-Provost Wilson, Falkirk; Rev. Thomas lartin, Mr . John E. Young, Dr. James Whitson, ex-Provost Somerville, Port-Glasgow; :\1r. W. Boyd Anderson, Ir. John Thomson, Dr. Ioffat, Dr. Alexander Robertson, Mr. James Gilchrist, Professor Alexander Napier and Mr. John U reo

The Secretary ( lr. Andrew Henderson) submitted the annual report by the Council. During the past year pupils attending 246 classes on .C First Aid to the Injured" and "Home Nursing and Hygiene" were examined. Five thousand nine hundred and fifty-six calls had been made on the waggons of the "\.ssociation, and tbe total number of patients conveyed since the formation of the Association is now 52,036. The number of calls in Glasgow had been 3703, an increase of 479 on the previous year. Tbis represented an average of 10·15 turns out daily The Council again reminded the public that the Ambulance waggons could be called for by any person, by day or night, free of all cost and responsibility. On receipt of an alarm-sent by messenger, telegraph, or telephone-a waggoh would be despatched at once to the scene of the accident; and should such accident happen in any of the principal Centres of the Association, the waggon would be under the cbarge of a trained attendant. It gave the Council much pleasure to report that, in February last, througb the agency of Dr. A Galbraith Faulds, the Association was generously presented by an anonymous donor with a private carriage specially constructed and fitted up for the removal of invalids. The Council undertook, on cer tain conditions, the removal of invalids either in tl-:e waggons or the invalid. carriage j being prevIously made on a prescnbed form During the past year the number of Certificates of Proficiency issued was as follows :-

First Aid Certificates, 27 5 I, and Nursing Certificates, 142-total, 2,893, making a grand total since the formation

July, 1902. -FIRST of the Association of 54,005. The number of Medallions issued was 978, making a total since the formation of the Association of 14,508. The 1edallion is issued to those certificated pupils who attend a second course of lectures and pass an examination in First Aid in a different session

The Council again desired to place on its appreciation of the services rendered to ASSOClatlOn by the ifedical gentlemen who have, at conSiderable trouble to themselves lectured to and examined the classes

Under the auspices of the Red Cross a leclure on Red Cross work in time of war was dellvered m the Queen's Rooms, on the 24th, and a held at Yorkhill on 26th October. The Council apphed to the Secretary of State for ,Yar for permission to appoint two representatives to the Central British C,ross Committee, and this was acceded to by him. fhe Council had appointed Lord Blythswood and Dr. George T. Beatson its first two representatives.

The Marquis of Breadalbane moved the adoptlOn .of the report. His Lordship said he considered the finanCial position of the Association satisfactory, as there \vas a balance in hand of £98 17S. 4d. after all expenses had been paid. He regretted, to. see that the subscriptions were still so small considenng the. of Ambulance work which \yas done by the .L\.ssoclatlOn . Rey. Thomas Martin seconded, and the report was adopted.

Office-bearers were afterwards appointed

PERTll.- - .L\' deputation, consisting of Dr. Robert Stirling, Dr. Taylor, Constable Garrow Mr. T. D. Smith, recently VISited Glasgow exammed. and tested the Ambulance waggons in operatlOn there WIth a view to selecting a waggon which is to. to the Perth St. .\.ndrew's Ambulance AssoclatlOn by Lleutenant H. Pullar, of Perth. The deputation deliberation, selected one similar to that shown m the Glasg.ow Exhibition last year, with some slight might be con.sidere.d In all likelIhood electric light WIll be mtroduced mto the waggon.

The Red Cross Society.

REPORT THE 'YAR.

\x interesting report has just been to the Secretary for \Yar ?y the Bntlsb Red. C:oss Committee dealing With the vanous voluntary which aided the sick and wounded dunng the South \ frican war. The details set in .the report are intended to indicate the manner m whIch tbe seve.ral schemes were initiated and carried out rather than to give an account of the actual work done, and, at the time, to serve as a guide for organisers of yoluntary aId 111 the future.

As arranged at the beginning of the war, the followll1g Societies and were r.epresented ?n the Central Committee, and detaIls of thelr work are g.l\·en :National Society for Aid to Sick and 111 ; St. John Ambulance Association.; NurSlllg SerVIce Reserve, and various Colonial

The report also deals WIth the Hospitals, wi1h Hospital trains and and WIth .the organisaLion 0[" Homes 111 the Un.lted Kingdom The report IS Illustrated by a number of interesti n g photographs and p la n s.

AI D.-

One of the King's Dinners in Clerkenwell.

the presidency of ?-1r. oArthur Hillward, chairman of No. 5 Ward Dinner Committee, about 750 guests sat down at table to receive tbe King's fare.

St. John s House, Clerkenwell-road, was kindly lent for the occasion, and punctually to time all the guests were seated and anxious and ready to do justice to the dinner. Under the supervision of the chief ste\\"ard, the Rev. T. W. Wood (Chaplain of the London Private Fire Brigade's Association), wbo was assisted by ::'Iessrs. H, W. Fincham, Boulton and A. L. ,Yood, the stewards were able to scn"e the guests quickly and well, and after to present each guest with a box of chocolates, and to each man hi'> portion of tobacco and cigarettes. By the. SIde of each plate was placed one of the King s mugs, and III each .mug a commemoration serviette. The tables were very mcel)' decorated with flowers fresh from the country.

At the conclusion of the dinner, the ::'1a)'or of Finshury paid a visit to the dining-rooms and read the latest bulletin of the King's health, which was loudly cheered by the guests, and he also read a telegram from H.R.H. the of Connaught, expressing rtgret at not able to VlSlt all the King's diners in the Borough of 1'lllsbury. The ::'fayor then led the guests in singing "God Save the King."

For the safety and comfort of the guests there were several admirable arrangements. A detachment of the St. John .i\m bulance Brigade \"as in and a side room on the second of the three floors occupIed by the guests was transformed into a temporary und,er the control of Lady 'upt. :Mrs. O\\'. J. Chur c h-Brasl er. less than six cases were attended to. Furniture for the temporary hospital was kindly lent by I\1essrs. Crisp and Co., of Holloway-road. .. ) .

The St. John Ambulance. I m-ate Brigade was also on duty, by kmd permiSSIon of the Chlef Officer, Mr. W. J. Church-Brasier, and w::\.s the command of ::'Ir. L. " "ood. Two men were to each floor with hand pumps, and p.recautlOn :yas taken by the brigade to prevent loss of hfe 111 of hre. Etxra hand pumps were kindly lent to the bngade by 11essrs. 1ferryweather and ':on, Long Acre, London, and Greenwich.

Colonial Nursing Association.

THE Annual ::'Ieeting of the Colonial .\'ssociat!on was beld, on July 9tb, at Kensington Palace, by permission uf Princess Henry of Battenberg, wbo \\ a s present throughout the Lord the Yice President, \yas 111 the chaIr, the absence, 0\\ lllg to illness, of Lord Grey, the There was a larae attendance, among those present bell1g the Sultan. of Lord and Lady :Knutsford, )'Irs: Chamberblll, Sir Charles and Lady King-Harman, SIr Ed\yard and Lady , Yingfield, Lady Lady Baron (Belgian Minister at TokIO), Lady 0 Hagan,. the Lyrd Provost of Glasgow, I\1rs. Francis Piggott, Ir E. oel Walker, 11r. C. T. Bruce, Lady Balfour of Burlelgh, Lady Quayle-Jones, l\Irs. Endicott, and M.rs .• \.ntrobus. The report of the Executive CommIttee howed S'll1Ce 1897 I"" Turses had been sent out, of whom 9J , .).) N· The total were Government and 38 1 urseS. ,n u mber of Nurses now at work IS 89, of whom 6.) are

employed in Government Hospitals, and 24 as private Turses. Last year the total was 67 Two new Branches have been formed this year-in Oporto and in the Falkland Islands.

Lord Westmeath, in opening the proceedinus said they all knew what a debt that Aswciation owed Mrs. Piggott, who, being with the poverty of the arrangements for N urS1l1g 111 some of our Colonies devoted much time money to remedying the state things He hoped that the Association, ,,,hlch was. dOll1g such good and urgently needed work would receIve larger support.

Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, M P., moved the adoption of the report.

Lieut.-Colonel :Montanaro seconded the motion and also spoke very highly of the work of the Association's N Colonel Man Stuart. added his testimony to the of t.he AssoClatlOn and Nurses. The proceedI11gs closed With votes of thanks to Princess Henry of Battenberg and the Chairman.

Ambulance Wo rk in B om bay .

A MEETING of the managing committee of the Bombay Centre of the St. John j\mbulance Association was held at the l\1unicipal Council Hall. In the 0 bsencc of ( olonel W. Riddell, Sir Bhalcbandra Krishna was voted to .the chair. '.l'here were also present: Dr. A. 1'v1. Benson MIss ManeckJee Cursetjee, Sir Bbalchandra Dr. Dinanath N Dandekar, Mr. Kazi h abJrud1l1: MJrza Ali Beg, Dr. Kowasjee E. ];adachan]ee, 1r. E. H. Aitken, Mr. Sundernath D Dr. T. N. Rao Bahadur Vasanji Sallor, Mr. E. A. Kenyon, honorary treasurer and Mr George Lund, honorary secretary. ,.

secretary announced that out of 20 of Dr. I-.ash1l1ath Gokhale's class at the G S :rovernment ecretanat Press 14 had passed. Tbe winners of the two pnzes of Rs , 10 and 5, respectively, Messrs. S. if Soongarwal!a and H. Traill, presented by the honorary secreta;y desIred to present the amounts to the funds of the Centre' It was resolved to accept the generous offers with thanks.

The honorary secretary also announced that a men's class had been f?rmed at ByculIa, with Mr. Chard, of the Bombay EducatlOn Society'S Press, as local honorary secretary.

C cor.sideration of the letter of the Acting 0mmlsslOner of Police asking that a reward mi ht be gIven to a Sepoy who had revived a boy from was

It was proposed by Dr. Dinanath Naik and by Dr. N . N. Katrak, that" when to through the honorary secretary, the commIttee considered It desIrable to -t 'Co gl an certlucates of good selVlce m cases where F)[st Aid 11as b ffi' I d - d ,," een e clent y renel e. ThIS was carned nem. con.

Bahadu.r Kesbawji Nathu Sailor announced his of contnbutmg Rs 75 to the funds d b mg I b ' "an eCOl11a lie mem er of the Centre The of[ mously accepted with thanks.' (;r was unanl-

I dMr. J. Clarke" of the Queensland Am bulance is 111 on, and has kll1dly reported himself at tl iE'" e)f }< IRSI' /1..llJ c 1e () ces

3 E

..:\t the King's dinner to the 001' h services of amb I p on t e 5 th lllst, the . .u ance men were much rc( i· - 1 d nearly every dllllng place tbey rendered at

The History and Developement of Manual, Steam and Motor F ire E ngines.

By CIIAS. T. CROWDEN, M.LeE., M L. :\ F E., M S.A., &c., &c

(Colltiliued from fage I 2J.)

:Fig Robelts,

24 shows an an mgemous eng ine built by Mr. William engineer of \fi ll wall, and

July, 19 02

-FIRST

be too powerful, and Mr Brainwood-the Superintendent of the London Fire Establishment-said the same results cou ld be obtained by coupling two manual engines together, a plan which he then thought more preferable 'than using the steamer.

Fig. 27 is a vertical Steam Fire Engine by Messrs Shand and Mason, and stoking between the wheels and tbe engine at the back of the boiler. This type appears to

AI D.-

Provincial Fire Brig a de s.

24. possesses great many novelties. This engine also Il1 Crystal Palace. trials in I863, in which M1. Roberts dId not seem to receIve fair play, although his results were remarkable he was soon put out of the running. At .the Crystal Palace trials Roberts, after working his engl11e, found several yards of canvass in the suction-pipe.

FIG.

be tbe standard pattern to-day in England; but engines were made of this pattern in America before this date, which will be dealt with afterwards.

Fig 28 shows Messrs. Shand and horizontal Steam Fire Engine, of I863, stoking behind the boiler and having an horizontal engine in front, to compete with Merryweather's who always advocated this system.

FAR?\RORO'.-The decision of the Council is awaited with no small amount of interest by the members of the fire brigade, who feel it will be a great deal better to have an official head. A chat witb the secretary, however, will clear up any misunderstanding. It \Yill be remembered that Mr Harding has proposed a resolution at the Council that that body take over all responsibility of the brigade and its liabilities from the present time, but, it must not be assumed that the brigade intend that the Council shall take it over as a going concern and allow notbing for the plant. The engine, which has already done good service for the town, was bought at considerable expense, and the members have denied themselyes on many occasions in their united resolution to make tbe brigade worthy of Farnborough, and it is felt that the District Council should allow that amount to the credit of the accident fund of the brigade ThIS is a matter which is to come before the committee of the Council, and it is fully anticipated that this will be taken into consideration. The members, who have served the town well, are not at all desirous of receiving any personal remuneration, but it is felt that there should be a fund upon which, in the event of any accident to themselves, they could fall back.

GUILD1'ORD.-The surveyor, as chief officer of the fire brigade, mentioned that a sum of about £22 bad been subscribed by resident" of tIle district to allow of members of tbe brigade going to Margate to take part in the competitions held there between the 5th and I2th instant. Several of the men being in the service of the Council, he now applied that leCtve of absence be granted to them. ;'1 r. Jenkins moved that the reque:t be acceded to. ;'11'. Armour seconded. Their fire brigade was a fine body of men, they gave their time to prevent the destruction of life and property in the district, and they fully deserve to be supported. The resolution was heartily adopted.

Ro.be:ts c?nstructed a Motor Fire Engine, the first one buIlt ll: thIS country We shall deal with this later.

25 shows a sect!on of Roberts' engine.

1< 19. 26 shows a sectlOn of Roberts' enaine and p taken from frame. One of these engines b was lent

London .Fire which is now called the MetropolItan Fire Britjade. It was thought at tha t time to

The engine and pump are si.milar in every respect to. those in use with the Metropolltan and other FIre Rngades to-day.

Volunteer Firemen should be instructeCi t.o s::t.\'1it' their office r s, and not slouch abo u when being sp01ie n to

Osw ALDTWISTLK-The fire brigade and Superintendent Sudell are to be congratulated on the part tbey took in the Coronation celebrations. was the task of preparing and fixing the streamers whIch gaye the township so gay an aspect. And in addition the brigade, with the engine scintillating in the of the sun formed a feature of the Thursday processJOl1 They took part in the parade at Accrington and a smart appearance, comparing most favourably wlth Accringtonians Oswaldtwistle at present has a capItal fire brigade

UR;\fSTON.-It was stated at a meeting of the Urmston District Council on July 8th, that the fire brigade had been reorganised, and a superindendent was being appointed.

The Ley ton and Ley tons tone Fire Brigade competition will be held at Cburch-road, Ley ton, on Bank Hohday, August 4th. Entries close July 29 th '3 ;::

Second Officer Gamble, of the l\I.F.B., one of the best fire chiefs in the world, \\'as carried out in ensible from the fire at the bonded warehouses, l\1inories, on the 17 th insL

FIG.

FlG. 25

FIG. 26

27·

FIG 28

Fig. 29 shows a sectional view of 11 essrs. Shand and Mason's engine, with an early boiler with vertical tubes.

FIG. 29·

FIRST AID

JULY 2I, I902.

LAST month we briefly referred to the Shall w e spirit of unrest which for some time had Municipali s e made itself apparent in several divisions the A mbulance of the Ambulance Brigade Department Ser v ice? of the Order of St. John. At that time, however, we had no idea how general was this feeling of dissatisfaction in the ranks of the brigade. From all quarters since we have received letters referring to, and complaining, in a more or less general way regarding the arbitrary way in which the supervision of the brigade is exercised from the head quarters at St. John's, Clerkenwell. Now this cannot go on, sooner or later the crash must come. While we are no advocates of nursing as opposed to disciplining a corps, or body formed for public service, still, when that body is a voluntary one, it does not do to apply the curb too tightly; but this appears to be just what is done in the case of the Ambulance Divisions of the Brigade. Superintendents and secretaries have written us pointing out the number of forms they have to keep and the vast amount of secretarial labour that this involves. Now is this really necessary to promote the further efficiency of these "first aid" workers? Emphatically we say, No! and its continuance is calculated to drive many an ardent lover of the work from out its ranks. N ow what are the facts appertaining to the note which forms the headline to our leader this month? Volunteer firemen have found by experience that it is undoubtedly better to be under the supervision of the local authority of the district in which their headquarters arc situated; they recognise that all their just requests for appliances are met in a reasonable spirit, while if any grievance should occur it is fully debated by the local authority, whose decision in the majority of instances is loyally accepted. N ow for the contrast. The ambulance man, as a rule, provides his own uniform and the appliances with which he works, and is not permitted to work under the supervision of the local centre of the Order, which is, so to speak, the parent which gave him birth in the ambulance world. Can one wonder then at dissensions?

" A house divided against itself cannot stand " - this is as true to -day as it was when those words were first made use of, and until something is done to put an end to all this friction which is hampering the development of the work, we consider that municipal ambulance brigades will continue to increase. We have spoken out fearlessly and, we think, in a spirit of friendly criticism, and it must not be assumed that we intend to accept without further enquiry all that has been written us. We have decided that this

question is a national one, and we shal l therefore depute one of our staff to make enquiries in the various localit ieS from which we have received complaints, and as a result of those enqu iries, on receiving his reports, we shall refer to this subject again Meanwhile, we think the subject one worth y of discussion by our readers, we the r efore offer a prize of ONE GUINEA for the best article in favour of "A NluN1ClPAL SERVICE," and a prize of ONE GUINEA for the best article against such a service. The articles will be submitted to a competent authority to decide and we reserve to ourselves the right to publish any such articles which may be submitted. For publishing purposes a 11011 de flume may be given but uo article will be considered which is not accompanied by the name and address of the wriler.

Northern Encourag

ement to Police

Ambulance Wor k .

A USEF UL COROKATION GIFT.

THE splendid work which is being done throughout the county in the training of our police to render First Aid in cases of serious accident is not appreciated as it ought to be by the general public; hence it does not receive that encouragement which is due to so worthy an undertaking. Therefore we are glad to notice the action of Mr. J. Morley Dennis, J.P of Grimsby, who, in order to celebrate the Coronation year has sent to each Central Divisional and Sub-Divisional Station of the counties of Lincoln and York, a card-thirteen inches by ten - bearing concise and clear instructions as to the renderi ng of First Aid in all cases of accidents. These instructions are classified under such heads as burning, wounds, hanging, poisoning and the like, and may he easily committed to memory. The cards have been placed in the paraderooms of the Police Stations, or other prominent places, being, in a manner, a perpetual reminder to the sergeant or constable of his Ambulance duties

The Chief Constable of Lincolnshire, and the Chiefs of the West, East, and North Riding's Constabulary have warmly approved of Mr. Dennis' useful gift, and have given him every assistance in regard to it. Letters of thanks have also bE.en received from the Chief Constables o[ the various cities and boroughs, and, it may be mentioned, that commendations have reached the donor from the Marquis of Ripon, the Earl of Yarborough, Earl Brownlow, and Colonel Sir H. C. Perrott, Chief Secretary of the St. John Am bulance Association.

It may not he generally known that in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, the area covered, there are over 4,000 police, and more than 4,000,000 people, and that the work of Parliamentary representation needs the services of sixtythree Members.

Mr. Dennis, it should be added, is the hon. sec. of the Grimsby branch of the St. John Ambulance Association, and has taken a deep interest in First Aid for the last twenty years. This instance o[ practical regard should give a stimulus to other districts, where, perhaps, Ambulance work is not very flourishing.

National Fir e Brigades Union. AT MARGAT.!£.

THI<: N.F.B.U. Annual Tournament and gathering this year at Margate, which took place. the 5th a.nd 12th inst., may, from a fireman's pomt of be a great success, we fear that fina.n cmlly IS to be desired. The brIgades began to arnve on Saturday, the 5 th and on Sunday, the 6th, as is usual, a parade held in the open air at tl:e Oval, Cllftonv.l11e, at whIch about 200 officers and men 111 full dress put 111 an ance. They were joined by No, ro Company of the FIrst Cinque Port Royal Garrison Artillery, the Thanet troop, Royal East Kent Imperial Yeomanry, G of }'irst Volunt.eer Batallion East Kent many volunteers who had been act1ve 111 South Africa, and the bands of the artIllery and 111fantry companies. The firemen were .onder the command of Col. Seabroke and Lieut.-Col. DIxon, who sion. Among the officers present were: } ll1n, J.1., Lydd (who we hope is none the worse for h1s fall off the engine); Capt. Folker, Guildford, the esteemed Capt. Johnson, J.p., Stamford ; Capt. Tab.or, Read111g; Capt. :F. Hart, Ashford; Capt. c.p. Lev1, Rochester; Capt. E. Westbrook, Tunbndge \\ ells ; Capt.. Peters Sittingbourne: Capt. B. R. Isaacs, LIverpool , Chief Officer H. \Vells, Margate \Vest, Supt. Venis, Westgate; Supt. .Farner, .Broadstalrs Supt. La Croix, Brighton; Surg.-MaJor Hamson, Chester, and many others. seats were r eserved for .the firemen, and it was also pleasll1g to note that the Mayor. and bers of the Town Council and Borougl: OffiCIals were ll1 evidence The Vicar of Margate officmted, and a very appropriate service was held.

.

On Monday, the 7th inst., South-Eastern l?lstnct competition inaugurated the actIve work of the Ul1lon the fll1e grounds that were so generously placed at th e dISposal of the Committee by. Capt. C. T. HatfIeld, J.P. arena was one C)f the best 1t has been our pleasure to see. 111 connection with these gatherings, and every that was necessary was duly arranged by the. } etes Committee in conjunction with their secretary, Mr. J. E. Saxby. On the grounds 111. r899 the South-Eastern District held then tourna.ment, :"hlch proved a profitable financial venture, but we thmk had to do with the fact that Whit ifonday was the penod of the year selected We append the points and results of the many competitions and these will speak for themselves.

The Department of the N.F.B.U. :vas much in evidence and is now becoming a strong sectlOn, [or not only have they sent out a large numb.er of men who rendered excellent service at the Impenal yeomanry Hospital, Deelfontein, .and at Base S.A., but they were :lble at thls to pr.actlcally strate to the public t.he merIts of the rigorous l1a1l1111g, aided by enthusiasm, that they possess

AI D - 9

On Friday, the rth inst., the parade for review by his Grace the Duke of ifarlborough took place, and he, as usual, was punctuality itself. Previous to. the review and inspection. His Grace lunched at the WhIte Hart Hotel WIth the principal officers, numbering sixty. After the toast of "The King," His Grace, 111 g1V1l1g the toast of the day namely "Success to the I.F.B.U.," said that had the'London fire brigade taken a few lessons which were to be learned on that ground that day, the terrible catastrophe that happened at the fire in Queen Victoria-stred, on the 9th of June, would not have occurred, for firemen were open to take advantage of any system whIch would more especially save life. His Grace .thanked the French for their attendance. and comphmented them upon then Pompier ladder work. After the luncheon the review took place, and among those present 1\lr. A. Rousha, late chief officer of the Coolgardle Ii Ire B ngade, Western Australia. It was perhaps to be regretted and men did not go under canvas instead ?f be1l1g dlstnbuted at various hotels about the town, for It would have done much to promote sociability as well. as The Tournament Committee, together WIth then ever-gemal and hard-working secretary, are to be congratulated upon the success of this gathering over Perry Bar. and Corporation and the chief officers of FIre Bngade .of Margate, have also to be. theIr many ments and attention dunng th1s VISlt, the final crown1l1g event of which was the christening of the cup won by the 1\largate brigade, at the Hall by the Sea.

RESULTS OF COl\IPETlTlONS_

ONE MAN l\IA UAL DRY DRILL. Ist pri ze, handsome silver cup (given by Peark s and £2; 2nd, £1 lOS.; 3rd £ I; 4th, 105. P

\CH:'I[EN A J)

OF HORSES (\VET DRILL WITH T \RGETS ) - Ist prize, siher challenge cup (presented by the Isle of Thanet Victuallers Association ) and £5; 2nd, £3; yd, £2; 4th,

FOUR MEN HOSE CART COl\IPET1TlON. - Ist prize, the Town of Tonbridge challenge shield and £3 ; 2nd, £2 ; 3rd, £1 ; 4th, £1 ; 5tb, 1OS.-

\Vells Borough

E SCAPE CO;\lPETITJOX (40 ft. TELE SCOPI C ESCAPE. fEX ) - ISt prize, grand challenge shield (presented by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of Tunbridge Wells ) and £3; 2nd, £2; 3rd, £1 ; 4th, LOS. -

page

AGGREGATE AN D SPECIAL PRIZE2).

The district challenge shield for the winning team making the best aggregate time in the one, four and six-men manual drills was won by Lydd.

Mr. D. ]. Stein, formerly of Margate, and now Chief Officer of the Melbourne Fire Brigade, gave two special prizes of £3 3s for the brigade making the best aggregate time in all drills, and £2 2S. for the winning team of the district challenge shield. These were taken by Margate and Lydd respcctively.

STEAMER prize, handsome sterling by the bUllders of Margate ) and £4; 2nd, solid slh er cup (gl\ en by the Norwich Union Fire Office ) and £3; 3rd , £2 ; 4th, £1 ; -

'Veils Di s trict

The Margate Brewery Challenge Cup, presented by Messrs. Cobb and Co., and £ J I s. given by the Liverpool and London Clobe Insurance Company, for the smartest and best equipped detachment with steamer at the South-Eastern District l<.eview, was given to Margatc; the second prize, a silver cup, given by the proprietors of the Globe Metal Polish, was awarded to Folkestone.

For the smartest and best equipped dctachment with manual, the prizes were awarded as follows :1st, silver cup, given by the Kent (now merged in the Royal ) Insurance Company, Southborough; 2nd, given by the County Fire Offi c e, Faversham; 3rd, given by Mr. Waltcr Austen, Westbrook, Margate.

NATIONAL STEAMER CHALLENGE SHlIi: LD. - lst prize, handsome silver challengc shield and £10; 2nd, £5; yd, £3; 4th, £2

FIRst ATIONAL ESCAPE CHALLENGE SHlELD.-1st prize, handsome challenge shield and £5; 2nd, £3; 3rd , £2;

Juiy,

NATIONAL HOSE C.\RT CHALLENGE SHIELD. - ISt prize, handsome challenge shield (presented by Messrs. Barratt and Co., Wood Green, London ) and £5; 2nd, £3; 3rd, £2; 4th, £1.

drill.

Hurslem Bedford Tunbrid g e \\- ell s Ponders End

Ley tons Lone Sandown, l.\V.

\Vestgate Hampton Bury St. Edmund s Bampton

CUP. Ist prize (present ed by Col.

Mayor ot Basingstoke ) challenge cup and £-1-; 2nd, £3;

£2; 4th £1.

Cant erbu ry County

Te\ycas tle (s taff) Bournemouth Mah-ern

Dickin son S

Molesey, East a nd \\ e s

Cape Hill Brew c ry

\Voodsto ck Marg ate Lydd \ \' ood s to ck Cap e II iII t Tied H a mpton J Malvern

CLl:-\TON CH \L LEN GE chall e nge shield ( presented 2nd, £..j. ; yd, £3 -I-tb, £2.

Ponders End Burslem

\Voodsto c k

Southwark and V a uxhall Nelson Cape Hill Brewery

Ist prize, handsome by Clinton s Limited ), and £5

SIX l'v[EN M l\ U \L DRILL ( DRV ) - Ist pri ze, £-1-; 2nd, £3; 3 rd £2; 4th, [,1. Cape Hill Brewery Molesey, East and \ Vest

Ilford Sittingbourne Kettering N ewcastlc (s ta ff)

Ley ton and Leytonstone

SIX MEN l\[A UAL DRlLL (\VET, "ith horses and coachman ) - lst prize, £6; 2nd, £5; 3 rcl , £4; -I-th, £3-

N .\TlONAL ONE M.\N CH .\LLENGE CUP.-lst prize silver challenge cup and £3; 2nd, £2; 3rd, £ 4th, lOS.

NATIOKAL DEWAR STEAMER SHTFLD 1st 1 1 some silver challenge shield by' Tl prIZeD' JaneM P ) d £ j £ 1 I 10111aS ewar , an 5; 21lC, 4; 3 rc , £3; 4th, :£2. Thirteen brigades entered.

GREEN MANUAL CUALLEKGE CUP. - ISt prize handsilver cup (in memory of the late Alderman Gleje£n, of Oxfold, one of the founders of the Union) and £5 21le, 4; 3rd, £3; 4th, £r. "

There were also 13 brigades entered for this evellt resulted as follows : _ which

FOUR MEN <;:ART. - The Sachs challen e ( ptesented the BrItIsh FIre Prevention Committee ) cup 2nd, £2 lOs , yel, £f lOS.; 4th, £1. - £3;

N \TlONAL CHALLE

ESCAPE DRILL ( FOUR l\IEN ) - lst £ 3rd 1OS.- prIze. 2; 2nd, £ 1 ; Bedford

J - '''' ).J

£j. An exhibition of fire drill was given by the French HeMmen, who had come across the water and who arrived at argate on Wednesday morninO' 1'heya' d' l t b h o· rnve 111 t)e own y t e 9· 14 a. m. train from Dover and were met at th.e Station by Col. Dixon Ca t Tabor Secretary), Capt. Tracey, Chief Officer and a of honour of firemen. There were 2" all told cludmg three buglers, in charge of two officeJrs Cap't' Commandeur Homere Malieu La Basse' and' C Louis Coe - A ' , ap1 ame z, rras, represcntmg Les Union des Corps d apeurs-Pomplers duo Nord de la France. There were I e men of the Arras ·Bngade and 7 men from La Basse The 4 were" taken on three. manual engines to the White were objects ?f considerable interest-their ltJle brass their knapsacks on their ac s, an each sO me portion of gear, such as a length of .hose, collapsIble bucket, life saving rope &c d one promInent among his comrades carried the They were taken to their quarters at. Bllrnham's Hotel, later m the day proceeded to the field, where they were mterested spectators of our drills and th some I f h . en gave examp es 0 elr own. Their funny little curricle engme,. small l;mt powerful, and much after the style of the ?ld pansh engme of days gone past, with the exception that It was on car.riage instead or four, was smarll got t? wodc pomp1er-Iadder drill was interesting conslderable agllIty was shown in the work of ascen'd'mg

J u l y, 1902.

-F I RST from floor to floor, and then coming down the life-saving rope, a sight that the Fire Committee of the L.c.e. should have seen

FETE IT THE PARK.

On Thursday a fete was arranged for in the Park, which was illuminated, but the high wind spoilt the effect, and as far as the attendance went it was practically a failure. The entertainment was provided by the Blue Hungarian Band, and the White Coon Banjo Team.

The Mayor in speaking a few words to the officers present, expressed satisfaction at the manner in which the firemen had conducted themselves in the town, and in response Lieut.-Col. Dixon proposed the health of the Mayor, Corporation, and Fetes Committee. He thanked all concerned for the magnificent reception the Brigades had met with, and other toasts were drunk.

THE EXHIBITIO

Merryweather's sent down one of their motor fire engines, "The Fire King," which is capable of travelling at 2 5 miles an hour, and which is ready for instant work on arrival at the scene of the fire. An interesting demonstration was given with it on Thursday, and also at the sea wall on Friday.

The Stevens Emergency Fire Extinguisher Company, Manchester, exhibited. It is claimed from this that it is the finest fire extinguisher in the world, and several prize medals have been awarded it at various exhibitions. The extinguisher consists of a brass tube holding about three pints of fluid, which is said to be absolutely harmless and free from sulphuric acid, and a decided improvement on hand grenades. At a made in the field, a large pile of material, well soaked with oil, &e., was set alight, and at a given signal the fire was put out under five seconds.

A I D.Letters to the Editors.

QUEENSLAND AMBULANCE TRANSPORT BRIGADE.

(

Conti1lued from page 27).

I ought to explain that it soon became evident that it was economic to use horse haulage. Time was saved, fatigue was spared to the and we early that the prinCIple equally applied to transport serVlCC, as well as to accident calls; so that, for years past, we have used our sulkies for all calls involving travel. The distance covered by the sulkies is given in the annual reports, and is in excess of foot travel.

I enclose a rough sketch of the ground floor of this centre All the appliances for quick response to emergency calls-" alarm," "call bells" (staff), stable, and outer doors, &c., are electrically connected, and act in a way somewhat similar to the fittings of an up-to-date fire brigade station. Our horses are trained to leave the front stall directly the general alarm is rung; two bearers and a driver are detailed in advance and in turn for the next "call;" and the men thus "on call " remain in the vicinity of the telephone. A call comes. If it proves to be one for "accident," the general alarm is rung, the stable doors are opened, the horse leaves the duty stall, the "hook in " is made, the outer doors are opened on driver's signal by pressing another electric knob, and in I 3 to 18 seconds the sulky manned with litter attached, is on its way to the scene of accident. In

Another exhibition was Burr's bedroom life-

SH OP saving line, by which people can be lowered from an upper storey, or a man or woman could lower themselves, if their exit by staircase is cut off, a useful thing in all buildings, especially where reliance cannot be placed on the attendance of a long escape.

Another interesting exhibition was Isaac's portable chemical fire engines. This is a fire extinguisher that is coming into prominent use, and the largE: towns are being equiped with the hose chemical engine. Birkenhead extinguished 16 fires last year with a four gallon chemical engine; London should have some -------. .--

Firemen's work is naturally dirty, but that is no reason why they should not use clothes and boot brushes more often.

OTICE. Superintendents of Ambulance Brigades, and of the Fire Service are particularly desired to send us accounts of their doings in as few words as possibly and as quickly as can be, for time and space are of rnOITlenL.

->-........c.-

Before the recent test of a newly invented smoke helmet at Liverpool, the volumes of smoke were so dense that the flremen were beaten back, but, donning the smoke helmets, into which air is pumped as in a diving equipment, they descended into the smoke, bearing the hose in one hand and electric flam beaux in the other, and soon succeeded in putring out the flames.

receiving transport calls we act in a different manner. A call comes- and whilst the six or seven questions necessary are asked - the driver brings a horse from a rear stall, and immediately the questions are satisfactorily answered, the men mount, and are away.

All we want to know in connection with an accident call is( a ) "vVho is speaking?" (b) « \\'here is it?" ( c) "Do you consider it serious?" If the call considers the nature of the injury to be seriol1?, we do our be st on tl.1e sc.ene in the least possible time, and to assist In thls the dnver IS provided with a peculiar whistle which, when used, is. recognised here and traffic makes way for us, as for lhe fire brIgade \Vith transport work we have to ask a lot of questions name, address, age, nature ?f malady, to,. on whose orders, &c.; and If the transport IS [0 a public hospItal, we must ha\'e the attending doctor s oreler to admit. Failing that in destitute cases, we can accept the order of a minister of or a J. P., or we act di rect on poli ce orders.

I want to make it clear that our sulkIes have no connection with the patient beyond the fact that they are used to convey the bearers ancllitter t? the desired spot, fatigue, and to save time. On arnval at the scene of aCCident, the senior bearer at O7lce makes for the patient; the junior bearer c'letaches the litter, secures a lamp (if at night\ water bottle, places thc connecting towing ro.d into. a prepared,Position, raises the tail-board, and then JOJl1S sel1lor. The dm er only waits to see if splints are required (these are earned under back seat of sulky), and having cleliyered these, or not, as the case

may be. he at onr.e rcturns to the centrc. Thc samc details apply to transport \l"Ork: after dropping the bearers the sulky returns to centrc. and all patient · al e transported on our impro\'ed Ashford litters to the desired point. The synopsis in the 1901 report will show ho\\' patients \\'ere disposed of during that \'car.

it is admitted here that this method of dealino- with calls im'oh:ing tra\d, permits of the best mode of transport for the suffenng oncs, and at the same time it commends itself from an economic aspect.

At this (entre we ha\'e ten litters: ei'Jht are in constant use, and it frequently happens that fi\·c. e\'en six. of these are on the road:, at the same time, To sen'e these litters, three sulkies and three horses are in use ( t\\"() horses are alway at grass " and these suffice.

The cost of our. imprO\'cd Jitters is, say, 1,I..J. our selling price, and our sulkies lOS. complete: say fiye horses at 1,10, and the total In\'ested in the abO\'e plant is less than £300. If \I'e \\ ere usmg .the horse ambulance \I agon \\'e shou}d, of reqUire eight of these. \\' e sbould also require to ha\'e eight horses on duty and,sar, four at grass, which \rould mean that the plant room accommodation would ha\ e to be doubled. stabling trebled: so that, besides the extra cost of plant ( the alJoYe represents an oullay of O\ er '£1 TOO there. would be a sunk to IJrO\'ide necessary and stabling-; further, \Ie should require at Ipast eight driYers, \I hlch \\Ovld II1Crease our \\'ages sheet.

But the abO\e are not the onl)' objections, for wc claim that .by our system the suA-erer is beller cared for: the steep grachents on negociated without the patient's kno\\ hiS pOSitIOn IS the same whether the country is up h.i1I, or down., they are practically in the open air a. big 111 thiS colony \\'hen heat is sometimes excessive, Instant attention can be given. roads. are, we can take the footpath, and general!\' speakll1g, It \\'Ill be conce.ded that a hand litter in practised hands can be better manipulated and obstacles better a\'oided than can be possible, when, as with a horse wagon you dependent upon the state of the roads, the 'of traffic, and the mO\ ements of a horse for the comfort of your patient.

The fact that seyen out of ten our medical transport patients are found to be asleep on ann'al at hospital demonstrates that our method of transportation lies lightl;' on tIle sufferer, and, many u!1so!Jclted testimonials reach us from recO\'ered patients to the care exercised by the staff, and thc ease \\'Ith which the sometimes dreaded movement \\"as eftected.

For h e last years a l,?cal branch of tb e St. John Ambulance ASSOCiation has been 111 eXistence in Brisbane, and more recently other centres ha\'e been opened in other towns. All these centres are connected \\·ith the \'arious technical colleges. Anyone, male or female, by payment of a small fee (7s 6d. ), can attend a Course of lectures on "First-aid)) and eJect to .go up for the subsequent examination The tlon the student to a certificate endorsed by St..1 ohn Ass?clatlon, London. In 1894 the committee of thiS bngade adVised that members of staff (honorary and paid) should attend these lectures and obtain this qualification as a gU';lrantee to the public that apart from our o\\'n institution a,nd ItS n:anagement, It was admitted that the staff individually qualified to as ambulance bearers in accordance with lank 1hat year, and e\'ery year since, we have sent membels up for lcctures and exam. This year, from this \\'e expe.ct seven at to pass. \Ve also ha\e.lectu,les 111 our centre lI1?epenGcntly o f the St. John, se\ el al doclors have kll1dly gi\'en serics f lectures on "First-aid," &c.; and in 1900 Dr. gave us a of lectures on "Disinfection." An exam. followed, and 10 out of 17 passed and 'fi d I,' 1 . .. , won a certl cate I edc al ?em to act as possessing special knowe ge 111 ISll1fectll1g

These lecturcs \I'cre afterwards published by m committee,. and I have much pleasure in forwarding a COP)/ \\ e have four ranks on our staff. (a) A' 1 I,'. man IS acceptec as a l ( b) he remall1S a probationer for three mont IS, I t en he IS recommended oy his superintendent he beconles an honorary member (c) 11 .' , member until be wins a St Joh;l an hon. 1e possessIOn

of \\'hich entitles him to rank as an hon. bearer. tf From the honorary bearers, \'acancies or additions to the permanent staff are filled honorary or paid, are fe d "'hilst on duty.

G mform can be requisitioned by all hon. members or bearers c!lrectly the ,Probationary period has passed. You will s.ee that If a man \\"ho already.possesses a St. J olm certificate, at the exp'ry of hiS probatIOn, he, by yirtue of theit certificate (other things being equal becom'es an honorary bearer. -

Xearly the members of the permanent staff, and a proportion of the honorary staff, are mechanics; so that It has been a cOlllparatiYely easy matter .to effect our repairs and make our Ol\"n plant 111 part. On takl.ng m'er this building trom the co.ntractor, the \\'hole of the speCial fittll1gs, electrica and otherWIse, \\'ere and com pleted by Our staff. After\\'ards, attentIOn was deyoted to the upper fiat, and the board room, library, bath and bedrooms ha\'e been ceiled pamted, and decorated in turn, in spare time.

July,

19 02 -FI R T

In conclusion, gentlemen I hope that the foregoing particulars will meet with your approyal. I intend to enclose fell' photograph as many, as 1 and any further deulil that YOU may" ish for I mil readily furnIsh, but the length of this 'letter [ feel sure, is all sufficient for your present patience .-l haye the honour to be, your obedient sen·ant.

R. ':\YE

Hon. ec.

Brisbane.

FIRE PROTECTIO:\ OF THE PAST .-\.:\D PRESE.:\T.

DE.\R .' IR:--,-At the time \\hen the City of London was ra\'acred b\' fire in 1666, there \\ere fe\\' or no implements for fire purposes or for the sa\'ing of life. except for the fe\\' hand squirts leather buckets , a ort of hook Implement on a pole called a fire crowbar: &c.

A I D,- IS

\

\ -.e after remm·i.ng any case o f e\'en suspected disease, and for thiS purpose we haye erected a disII1fectll1g shed at the rear of our premises.

The ,. time;' or "duty" sheet for this centre is \\'orked out penodlcally and stands for six \\ eekc;. To l5iyc an idea of the hours of duty performed by the paid staff, I enclose a section of an old sheet. E\ery member of the paid staff has four free Sundays eyer)' six weeks; and to make up for the t\\"O Sundays are on duty, each in turn obtaips t\\'o days leaYe. Sides thiS, annually, 111 place of these two da\ , a lea\'e of seyen full days in turn is permitted ,

T\\ o honorary bearers and two honorary members, marked X thus on tlIne-sheet, ah\'ays sleep on the premises; the first t\\·? supplement, and are really candidates for a position on the paid staff, \\'ho are meanwhile paid for sen ices rendered between 8 cuT' and 6 with an understanding that whilst they are free from 6 to r r p.m. on the'r " Jff' nio-hts they are to "call" at any other time. 0

The two hon. members are permitted to make the centre t!lelr home on the same understanding that if required their time bet\\'een p.m. and <? a.m. is. at brigade disposal; but as these t\\"o men ll\'e by their a\'ocatlons followed through the day, they are only called if pressure necessitates.

Thys we ha\'e eight men and the s tew ard always sleeping here:. eight men always ready to respond to any call received. And It sometimes h appens that the centre is left in the temporary charge o f the steward, all the bearers being ena-aged. As an example, last eveni.ng-," calls" \v ere fr equent, at 10:30 we recel\'ecl a cal l \\'hlch lI1\'oh'ed a travel of ten to eleven rr;des, and left the centre \\'ith three men and myself. At o clock another call came from a mile away. I drm e two bearers to the spot, thus lem'ing only one at centre At 12.30 two men. returned.; at I. 10 two other men reached the centre; meam\"l1ile tl:e clm'er and myself had retired for the night. At r 30 our ser\'lceS were telephoned for at a large fire; two cases of suffocation were ach'lsecl, and away we went with two litte rs a ne! four me!1' The driver was on o n e su lk y and I drove the ot h er, and It was 4.30 a .m. before the s taff (bar he night watchman) were between the s hee ts.

Calls a r e, of course, very er rati c; we go so metimes for three, even four \\'I.thoLlt a tr ave l call, and then we g et a regular and 111 40 ITI111utes fr om date o f the first call we have received four, or eyen five Sometimes at night we al e not called out once; tbat IS, there IS no occasion to turn out the horses.. All minor cases whi ch arri\'e at the through the night are' attended by the man o n "all l1Ight'duty

, On other tb e "calls" are very heavy. One thin g has to be remen:bel ed, wl:ether ca lls come or not, we mu s be ready to II1 stan tly, ,I t bemg reco gni sed tll at the s uccess and populanty o.f the bri ga de is owing in grea m easure o the prompt way m \\hlch we answe r" accide nt ca ll s."

\Vhi! s t we can clear the ce ntre in 14 or r 5 secon d s through the c:ay, It takes 40 to 50. sec? nd s to ge t alVay a ft er 1 r p.m. s h eet will give you a fair idea of the way our revcnue IS derived, .and also show th c itemised ex penditur e I a m also sendlDg three. or fOLlr lea \'es fr o m Our last year's SpOi tS. progralT' m e , because It co ntan:s a co nd e n sed hi sto ry of th e brigade.

\\-hen the hand squirts failed to extinguish lhe fire and It had got \\ ell hold of the buildings, in many ca es the adjacent buildings each side \\ere destroyed or pulled dO\\ n to pre\ ent the tire spreading or burning down, perhaps, a "'hole street or ro\,· of building". These early fire implements \yere kept in the parish churches cha:ge ?f th.e parls.h beadle, who usually acted as chief ottIcer 111 dlrectll1g their use at fires.

I n the next century the Fire Insurance Companies sought to protect their O\\'n intere ts, purcha ed fire: frol11

.:\ e\\'nsham and others \\·110 constructed hre eng'll1es slnlliar to those pre\iously used in Cermal?Y and Holland many years before. The London Fire E tabllshment \1 as soon aftenyards instituted in the interests of the Fire Insurance Companies, and a Society came into existance for sa\ing life at tires. The London Fire Establishment came under the superyision of Braid\\ood as ItS Chief Officer.

Although steam fire engines had made be.fore by Braithwaite, in 1830, and one of hIS hre engll1es \\:orked at the great tire of the Rooms I\i success, Braidwood failed to see the utility of stcam hre engmes oyer ma::uals, although in the last year of his he tried team tire engi nes, (me constructed by Roberts, of :'I [ilh\ al L and the other by :'I1r. James Shand.

Fo;" the protection of ri\'erside property a floating hand-fil:e engine was constructed by' :\[essrs. Shand and ::'I[a50n. ThiS was some years afterwards to work by by tbe same firm. Another large floatll1g steam fire eng-ll1e \\a built by :'Ilessrs, :'IIare and Co., of :'IIill\\all, this in resembled some\\'hat one o f our penny steamers. [t \\'as htted with an Appold pump and did sen'ice at the Great street fire, \\hen it \\orked cont1l1Llously for O\'er -+00 hours. It was at this great fire that the London Fire 10 their chief otTicer. Braidwood Shortly after thiS the London Firc Establishment and the Society for Saying Life \\'ere both absorbed by the Fire Brigade , Capt. Eyre ::'IIassey S h a\\' C B., controlled by the Board of \" orks.

Vnde r Capt. Sha\\', the .Fire Brigade .rapldly g r ew, incrcasing the number of .fire recognlsll1g value and use of steam fire englnc and fire escapes, \\"hlch were then known as the fly-ladder type, made under Clarke's patent. 1t is clue to this. gentleman, .Clarke, for his ingenuity in prod u cll1g and g·c.ttl1lg adopted a reliab le apparatus for sa\'in O life from fire. H IS pattern escapes ,,, ere 111 lise for many by the :'Ifetropolitan and other Fire on ly, like most pioneers, uthers reaped the re\\'ard of hIS energy and I·ork.

Up to the ti me of Capt. Sha\y's resignation, the tan Fire Brioaele bein u then under th e control of the London County the fire fngines which w ere. of a .small pattern o r sizc, co uld not be used to the ir full capacIty 0\\'1I1g, to the wate r m :lins being unablc to supp y the necessary of w a te r re quired, conseque ntl y, tl:ese small steam fire engines could not be \\'o rk cd \I·ith any thll1 g like results. Although imprm'ements h.<lYC ince been made 111 th: sen ice by la r g'e r water mall1S, there are stili many pb.ce:, \ hel e c\'en o nl y o n c or t\\' o of these small s team, fire eng1l1cs could get s.ufficien t \\' a t er t o b.e of real sen'lce, at I.arge Le a YlJ1 g th e 1ll1c o f th e rJ\ 'e r 1 , L o nd o n IS stil l 111 danbet of being s hort of water at most of Its la rge fires.

The nre e capes eldom reach 60 ft. or 70 ft. \\'hich are totally inadequate for many building-s, and there i yet a great deal of room for nre escapes to reach -ome of the higher buildings and horels of the :\Ietropolis \\ hich, in case of nre, the-e existi ng machines would still be unable to re cue people from the upper t10ors. \- ery few know tbe danger they run when they sleep in the upper storie- of these buildings. Our :\ietropolitan Fire Brigade should be pro\'ided \\ ith larger fire engine, a better" ater supply, and more efficient machines for saying- life at fires. London, for it - size. I consider. not with ,t:l.J1ding. the existence of the :\[etropolitan Fire Bri;ade, is one Llf the least protected large city or tOI\'n in Europe or .-\merica. The prices of nre bri),;ade apparatu are cut so lo\\" by the controlling councils to Cllt expenses that the cheapest and most inefficient articles are generally supplied: this fault also exists in nearh' all our town councils and authoritie to Cllt expense. :\[ost of our proyincial tol\'ns hal'e a huge steam fire engine \\ ith poli hed bras boiler lag.,ing, standing like an [chabod in -en ice, "hcn the or supph- from their \\ ater -upply is insufficient fur it to be of use at a fire of any size. To the defects 111 the I "'ould suggest that from the main al tery of the Thames that water ducts be con - tru c ted extending into large underground or storage tanks, wbich, in some places could be supplied gravitation, and others augmented by pumping. the -e means plenty of water could he obtained at different centre-, and in the of large rire aU O' ment the present water supply and ernce.

\\-ith regard to saying- life. the fire escape-, to reach these high buildings, \\'ould require to be of an entirely different pattern and construction to the machines no\\ usetl by the brigade, which co t £60 or ;;-0 each. Such escapes as at present req u ired \\ould cost £..J.oo or £ -co.

The prejudice that the a\'erage English fireman has against ne\\' appliances, such as en9"ines. haye heen condemned by nearly all our hre brigade olticers and manufacturers of nre appliances in this country for a great many Years, .md which bal'e pre\ ented their adoption to -extent in this country. But notwith tand ing their opposition, the chemical fire engine has strol1sly fa\our in this countn' and we find that e\ en some of the hre brigades in our large are adopting chemical engines of .-\merican manufacture The same thing may be saicl about cam'a - ho e, that there \\'as nothing like leather and nothing could supercede it. \\-hat tire brigade uses cumbersome leather hose clays? .-\t the same time they preached there \\'a - nothll1g like \Yater for exting'ui bing fire, \\'hereas the mere t tyro in these matters kno\\ better, and tbat neither nre or life could, or can, exist, in carbonic acid gas whi::h the e chemical discharge For cellar and. places, carbol1lc aClel g.as discharued from a chel111cal engme, cannot be surpassed for fire purposes.

The maintenance of horses for the use of the :\letropolitan Fire Brioade could be almost dispensed I\·ith by the adoption of motor til; engines. Electricity \yill in th.e ncar future be us ed by fire brill'ades to work the pumps, ma11lpulate the hose and escapes, &c.; also for. the engines to fires instead of horses. Although eXlstl11g steamers be. adapted to motOl:s at a reasonable co t, sa\'ing the keeping ot horses. and. their attendants the \\Titer some t\\"el\e months ago mterne\\ed chief officer of the' :\[ etropolitan Fire Brigade and put his plans before him for comertin&, tbe steam nre engineof the :\letropolitan FIre Brigade I11to motors, ,:nd \,ere apparently appro\'ed of b)' hll11 after se: eral I11ten lel\'S and 1llaking se\cral rleslgn , was by hlln the:- I\'ould be constructe! by himself, the Council \'otlllg .£..J.oo for the purpose. Altholwh ei';'hteen months has passed away and more money yoteel \\'e ha\ e not yet scen hi - motor fire engine in sen·ice.

\\ -ith all clue respect to the, chief C?fiiccr,. 1\ e think if his energ-ies were de\oted to the extll1gulshlng ot fires 1I1steac! of trying' to to construct \\"itilout the necessary long and \'aned e'perlence reqUired ", I mil"ht mention in conelu - ion, lllY experience III \\T ltlng this is based on a long of nearly a quarter <?f a century of the ;\[etropolitan Fi.re Brigacl.e, and th e .con truclion of steam fire and appliances \lhlCh are beJllg used by

-FIRST

nearlyeyery fire brigade at home and abroad, and I may say all over the \\,orld.-Yours, &c.,

CHAS. T. CROWDEN, Engineer. Motor \Vorks, Leamington.

DEAR SIR.·,-The recent accident to l\Tr. Chamberlain in \ Vbitehall being only one of many p:-oofs of an absence of an organised London ambulance sen·ice. 1 sucrcrest that the police! military.' St. John. Ambulance or Hospitals Association might. provide an ambulance litter, to be kept at the Horse Guards 111 charge of the sentries, for street accidents in that neighbourhood, so full of quickly-driven traffic There is nothing like. getting some prominent personage killed, or nearly killed, 111 the streets to get the authorities to consider the need of an ambulance service for London The nearest police ambulance available for !\Ir. Chamberlain, had it been used, "'as as far as Cannon-street railway station is from 46 Cannon-street.- Yours, &c.,

A;\IBULANCE WANTED.

GARROULD'S FOR

UNIFORMS, CAPS, COWNS, BONNETS, &c.

FIRST AID.

The Independent Journal for the Ambulance and Fire Services.

Conducted by ARTHUR T. DALE, M.J.I., and JOHN REYNOLDS.

o. 98.-VOL. I X . [NEW SERIES.]

IMPORTANT NOTICE. - The date of publication of "Firs t Aid " is the 20th of the month.

L. A. C.

SIRs,-On Sunday e\'ening a young fellow met with his death on the \'-.al.sall I:oacl.' near the lodge of Perry Hall and Park. He was hiS bicycle, with t\'"O others abreast, and came 111 contact With a trap, the shaft penetrating a vital part. This m.ishap took place about 7-45 p.m. He lay on the. mam road facll1g Church-lane until eight o'clock. Two officers were present, and used all vig-ilance possible; Dr. LeWIS was 111 attendance, and did all he could for at least half an hour, with many all too willing helpers. Se\'eral vehicles came the scene, the owners cheerfully offering to convey the stncken y:oung fellow to the General Hospital, but one and all were unSUitable. The Red Cross Ambulance stationed at wa.s duly s.ummoned by from Perry Ban 1 olice Station, and It arrIved at about eight o'clock just after the man had passed away.

Crowds of were present, and all were more or less at wltne.ssll1g death agonies of the young fellow lYll1g on the mall1 road 111 full Sight of the crowds. Surely what happen.ed on Sunday evening speaks loudly for ambulance to be stationed at Perry Barr itself.-Yours, &c., EYE

July 7th.

Volunteer Ambulance School of Instruction.

President: l\1ajor Andrew Maclure, Y.D., late L.S.R.V Office: 23, Cambridge Street, Hyde Park, W. ORDERS:

The next class the training of regimental stretcher \\"Ill commence 111 October. Application forms can be obtall1ed of Sergt. .H. J. Bussell, 13, Gower-street, \V.c., or of Amb.-Sergt. C. SkIllbeck, 6, Carlton-hill, N. \ V.

(By Order) P n. G I LES, F R.C.S BrIgade Surgeon Lt.-Co l. , Senior Medical Officer.

J:. A King Edward V II. , of "\ vlSlted America, he witnessed in this CIty a Sight which could not be seen to-day-a ni ght parade of the ?,OOO Volunteer Firemen. Except the n;en who were haulmg on the ropes of the apparatus a n d hose who had of all the Fireme n carried torches. The nr:-ce, It IS said, enj oyed t his pa rt of the prog ramme more h ighly than any other.

F OR Si\L.E. Ambulance Officer's Uniform, S. J .A.l3 , conslstll1g: 1< orage Cap and cover, Fatig u e Cap Jacket, l' augue J Trousers, Cross-belt and pouc h leat-coat. and Cape; Fit heIght 5 ft. I in., chest in. good condl tlOn; approval o n deposi t.- Hancock 8.J Lo ]\[orley-street, Tuns tall, Staffs. " "el

Telegrallls: "Carrolfld, L01ldo/l.·'

COUPON TICKET

SPECIALLY Gt:ARAI,TEED MY

The Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation,

LIMITED, 40, 42, & 44, MOORGATE STREET , LONDON, E C, (to whom Notice of Claims, under the following conditions must he scnt within seven days of accident to the aGove address )

600093 £100

will be paid bv above Corporation to the legal representative 0 anyone who 15 killed l)y an accident to the Passenger Train (\I ithin the United Kingdom or Channe Islands), in which the deceased was a bearing or paying passenger, or who shall ha\'e been fatally ll1Jured thereby (shou d death result within ninety days after such accidcnt).

PROVIDED that the person so killed or injured had upon hi or her person or had left at home this ticket, with his, or her, usual sigl:ature, written prior to the accident, on the space provided below, whIch, together with the giving of notice within the time as hereinhefore mentioned, is the essence of this contract.

This insurance holds good for current issue only, and carrie. the henefits of and is subject to, the conditions of thc "OCEAN Al'\D GUARANTEE COMPA Y, Limited, Act, 1890 RIsks Nos. 2 and 3.

The Corporation admit that the purchase of this Papcr is the payment of a premium under Section 34 of the Act.

No person can rceO\'cr undcr more than one Coupon ticket in respect of the same risk. ,C.;l/:/lallfre Printed

To Our Reader s

As il is the earnest \\ish and of the new Proprielors to make lhis J oumal as attractiYe and entertaini ng as possible, correspondents in all parts of the country are asked to giye it all the help they can.

Superintendents of Corps and Officers of Diyisions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Officers of the \'olunteer Medical Staff Corp, the Volunteer Ambulance School of Instruction, and Chief Officers of Fire Brigades will, it is hoped, do their best to make it knO\\ n amongsl the members of their respecti\-e and will also send for puhlication their official ne\\s and notices. Sugge -tions are ilwite I for I'ril:e Competitions and other mallers \\ hich \\ill athance the interest of the Journa1.

\\'e particularly clesire to ask our correspondents to be brief a'1d to the point in any communications they may <;encl us for publication.

\Ve are pleased to record the fact that we are already receiying a great accession of support from all parts of the country, and as our spacc is somewhat limited, in dealing \\ ith reports of local meetings for presentation of certificatc", &c., it would he bettcr that a hrief report \\ ere \\ritten, giying a short resume of the yarious points touched upon hy the principal speakers, rather than that a Icngthy ne\\-spaper report should he sent gi\'ing in detail the \\ hole rccord of the meeting. Thi report is douhtless interesting to local First-aiders, but it mu_ t be horne in mintl that \\c are catering for the .\mhulance and Fire Brigade \\ orl<1 at large.

TEIDIS OF SUBSCRIPTION.

For 12 month, IS 6<1., post free, to be sent to the Puhlisher., ::-J essrs. Dale, Reynolds and Co., 46, Cannon"street, London, E. C. Tell'f{ral'hi( .-Iddress-" TZOCIlIYJollr, London " Tdt'phollC 1\ '0.-,';'77 Ralll.

Brevities.

DR. REH, a German, has invented an acetylene lamp or lantern for the use of the surgeon on the batt lefield. Two or three years ago a similar lamp was constructed, consisting of a generator of the size or a hawrsack, which was connected with a burner and reflector by means of a long rubber tube. This was, however, large and heay)" requiring the exclusiye services of a bcarer. It was vcry fr agile, and it was awkward to manipu late W bat was wante d was a l amp which, whi le being ight, should be s tr o n g, and capable or being carried either III the hand or attached to the waist bclt so that the bearer could at the same time fulfil his normal d u ty ]) r. Reh be l ieycs h e has succeeded in const r ucting a la n tern which answe r s a ll requircments. E\'ery stretcllerbearc r h e consi de r s, sho llil be prov ded with one of these lamps, wh ich a r e of exceedingly simple const r uction. W hen

[F:Jlhn-ti at .StatitlJ/LTs· 1I,.!/.] PRICE Oi\E PEi\i\Y.

extra light is needed fur an operation, or any other cause, thrce or fiye of the lamps can be attached to portable stanchions.

* * *

THE German Emperor, it is announced in the German Imprria! Ca:;etle of the 23rd July, has con ferred the distinction of the Red Cross (Third Class) upon Edwin O. Sachs, Chairman of the British Fire Prevention Committee; 1bjor Fox, Chief Officer of the London Salyage Corps; SL'cond Officer Gamble, Ietropolitan Fire Brigade; a 1d Horace I'olker, Hon. Secretary of the l\'ational Fire Brigades Union.

* * *

SAY a contemporary: "Tbe almost incredible brutality of a section of agitators in Ireland, recorded by the Duke of Manchester in a letter to the Press, makes one wonder whether these people h:)xe any human sympathies at all. To stop an ambulance bearing a number of enteric patients tG hospital and force them to make a detour of some miles oyer jolting by-ways, is a piece of sa\"agery of which a Mafai would hardly be guilty ',"bat is more ::!stanishing tban anytbing else in the Duke's statcment, is tbat all this took placc in the presence of the police and without interference on their part. In the f..lce of the Duke's assurance that he is perfectly prepared to proye all his statement, Mr. " "yndham owes it to himself and the Irish Governtrent to inquire into the matter at once' * * *

ONLY the sanction of the Local Goyernment Board is now required to secure a motor-ambulance for London. At Saturday's meeting of the Metropolitan _\sylums Board it was decided, subject to the sanction of the central authority, to accept an estimate for the construction of an automobile ambulance at a cost not exceeding £1,000 Of course, this is only a pioneer step, and we arc still a long way from any general system or ror metropolis; but the fact that the authOrIties are awakenll1g to the public demand for the e:'\jJeditious of sick and injured as well as for equal celenty m reachll1g the scenes of fire-is worth noting. * * *

ALTHOUGH w e r egret we cannot giye an account of the services r endered by the members of the .J.A.B on duty at Carlisle during the Royal Agricultural Sho\\", wheft the wcatber was most trying, we learn from the officers of the Royal r\ gricultural that the good \York ?one by the mem bc r s has been \\-ell appreciated and will be full), acknowledged " "e also learn with a great ?eal of pIe::! lire that the Co n go medical case, kindly supplIed by the wcll-

-FIRST

known house of Messrs. Burroughes and Welcome, was, as h ere tofore, found of great a dv a nta ge by the m e dical men on duty, one and all of whom speak in th e high es t terms of pra is e of it s utility for te mpora ry Ambulance Stations, or, ind eed, for any occasion wh e re portability and compactness is a des id eratu m.

* * *

AMON G the m e thods of recalling to life the "apparently drown ed," the most singular and sometimes the most successful is that of rhythmically drawing out the tongue of th e subject. Dr. Labord e, of Paris, has carried out many experiments both on human b eings and on animals during the last few years, a nd in the p a per he has written on t o n gue traction records several .cases in which, wh e n all outward signs of life had ceased ther e still remained late nt vitality. In order to allow this latent vitality th e opportunity to develop, th e respirat o ry organs must be set in motion, a nd th e best means of doing this is by tongue traction. Th e larg er number of 11is experiments have n a turally been performed on animals; and in one case tongu e traction on an asphyxiated bull dog was rewarded with su ccess in two and a half hours after all signs of life had ceased. Two hours of traction wer e productive of no result, but the extra half-hour produc e d a slight respiratory co ug h, a nd in thr ee h o urs the dog was on its legs. It occurred to Dr. Labord e that it would be a good id ea to substitute an automatic apparatus for the cloth-covered hand. Th e first apparatus made was driven by clockwork ; t h e improv ed instrum ent is operated by an e lectric motor, a nd by means of it the tongu e can be subjected to continuous traction for three hours.

Mr. J. PIERPONT MOR GAN, of Transatlantic Shipping Ring fam e, has ju st pr ese nted to the N ew York Lying-in Hospita l an elec tri c am bu la nce which possesses several noteworthy featur es It W;lS built on th e Gibbs system by the Vehicle Equipment Company, of Brooklyn, New York, t h e great aim in its construction bei ng to r end e r th e pati e nt as co mfortahl e as p oss ible It is pro pe lled by a 2-h. p. Westinghouse traction m o tor drivin g th e rear wheels through roll e r chains. Current is supplied from a battery of 44 chloride cells s usp end e d ben ea th th e floor of the a mbulanc e, charging being carried ou at the hospital, wh e re a special charging board has bee n erect e d in conn ec tion with th e pow er plant fo r the purpose. The upper portion of each side of th e ambulance is hing e d, and when rai sed, forms a sloping roof over the bottom half which is also hinged, and when low e red forms a continuation of the inside floor. The b ed is arranged to pu s h forward on the fl a p thus form e d, and the patient la id upon it, after which th e bed is r e turned to the inside and the hinged sides reand fastened. The vehicle is lighted inside by three elec tnc lamps, and provision is made for h eating it electrically when desired. Current for the purpose is taken ·from the main cell s, which also supply the outside headlights \\'1th energy. The speed of th e ambulance can be varied hy it.s con troll er from two to tw e nty mile s per hour, th e steenng and con trol being effectE;d frorn tilt;! drivc;r's seat in

A I D. - August, 1902.

front. This type of motor ambulance has become already very popular, five similar vehicles having bp.en ordered from the same makers. \Ve understand that two of these are for Paris, two for Boston, and the last for th e Presbyterian Hospital in New York. Absence of noise, vibra tion and smell are characteristics of electromobiles, and as these are eminently desirable qualities for an ambulance, the wisdom of choosing one propelled by electricity is at once evident.

A'l the closing meeting of the British Medical Association in Manchest er on Aug. 1st, Inspector-Ge neral Porter, c.B., R.N., read a pap er on the Red Cross Badge. H e said that in the late war in South Africa regrettabl e re c riminations took place on both sides regarding alleged abuses of the Geneva Cross. After making all possible allowances, cases of deliberate abuse of the cross occurred during the war. The badge being of no particular size or mate rial, anyone could fashion it, or wear it, or hide it away at will. I t enabled recruits for the Boers to cross the Portuguese boundary at Komati Poort. The enemy, when hard pressed, as at ] aeobsdaal, hid their Mausers, donned Red Cross badges, and so avoided capture. What was wanted was a uniform badge of strictly regulation patt ern and mate rials. All Red Cross equipment, ambubnee, cases o f m e di ca l and surgical appliances, should b e mark ed by authority and limited to their proper us e In South Africa th e enemy had all mann e r of vehicles adorned with r e d cr osses . A curious assortment fell into our hands after th e fi g ht at Modder, which we restored to Cronje, though it was generally asserted that it had be en us e d for all manner of purposes, legitimate o r otherwise, according to th e requirements of the moment. Surgeon-Ge n e ral Hamilton said that in the war of 1881 Sir R e dve rs Buller us e d Army m e dical wagons with th e Red Cross on them for taking ammunition to the front, and armed the bearer companies and us e d them as esco rt. H e had that from th e principal m e dical officer to whom th e orders were issued. Li e ut. -

Colonel Hyslop, U.S.O., principal m e di cal officer to th e Natal Volunteer Forces, said the Bo ers boasted of having us e d the cross to dec eive us, and ambulance wagons had been e mployed to carry ammunition but if Sir R edver s Buller did that twenty years ago we could not bla m e th em for adopting th e same tactics.

"DIAVOLO)). LO OP ING THE Loop. On Monday, July 28th, at the evel1lng performan ce, Diavolo, while co min g out of the loop at a speed of 50 m iles an hour, fell from his ma c hine with a crash. Supt. Riley, of the Caterham Divi sion, happen ed to be on the spot, and immediately went to render assistance. Diavolo was carried behind the scenes and was un con scio us for 15 minutes. Supt. Riley administered restoratives, and dr ess ed a contused wound on the right temple. Mr. R.ltchle and. Di avo lo both thanked Mr. Riley for his kindly attentlOn. Agall1 on the oc casi on of Diavolo's second fall on August 5th Supt. Riley was there, and ca rried him beh ind and found him suffering from concu ss ion as before, with contused woul'ld on left temple. Dr. Forbes Win s low and a surgeon of Westminster Ho sp ital, who came on the scene at the back of th e sta g e, ad vised his removal to Westmin s ter Hospital.

Our Portrait Gallery.

SUPT.-SECRETARY FRANK TURNER, H ONORARV SECRETARY, LEICESTER CENTRE, S.J.A.A., AND SUPT.-SECRETARY, LEICESTER CORPS, S.J.A.B.

M R FRANK T URNER, whose portrait appears in ou r Portrait Gallery thi s month, was one of th e fi rst t o tak e an active int e rest in Ambulance work in Leicester, having ga in ed his F ir st Aid Certifi ca te in March 188 1, and in 188 3

AI D.St. John Ambulance Association.

On Thursday eveni n g, Jul y 24th, West H ampstead Town Hall, Broadhurst-gardens, was filled to overflowing when H.R.H. thE.. .Princess Louise, Du chess of Argyll, attended t o present the medallions and certificates won by members of the o. 9 District (Metropolitan Centre) of the S.J.A.A. of which District Her Royal Highness is the president. The Princess, who was accompanied by Miss Campbell, was received at the entrance by the chairman, Li eut. -Gen R. W. L ow r y, Sir Herbert Perrott, Gen. Sir William Ow en Tudor Burne, Si r Vincent Kennett Barrin gton, and the Misses Gwendolen and ora Platt, the Han. Secretaries of the No. 9 T)istrict. The Hampstead Division of the S.].A.B., in charge of Sergt. Osborne, formed a guard of honour in the entrance hall, and twentyfour gi rls from the Soldiers' Daughters' Home, in charge of Miss Bartlett, the lady superintendent, and "Miss Anderson, th e matron, acted in a similar capacity inside. As her Ro yal Highness was conducted to the platform the National Anthem was played, and, as soon as the party h ad taken th eir places, a handsome bouquet was presented to th e P ri ncess by Miss Peggy Adams, the young daughter of Dr. D :'\.rcy Adams.

DARLINGTON. - Dr. Caldwell, of Brotten, was presented with a valuable oak decanter stand, containing three crystal decanters, by the Lumpsey Mines Ambulance Class in recognit on of his services as instructor to the ambulance students.

h e passed his third exam and secured the medallio n of the Association.

Mr. Turner was one of the founders of the or iginal L eic es t er Am bulance Corps, of which he was elected \' icePresident in I883, and the following year was appo int ed President, in addition to which he held the of In spector of laterial. \ Vhen the Corps was merged lIlto the S. J. A.B. he was unanimously chosen Superintendent Secretary, a position he holds at the present time. In sp it e of the ext ra work that this office entails, Mr. Turner still continues to hold that of · Hon. Secretary to the Leicester Centre Fond of hard work and the deta il s of orga nisati o n, wh en th e call came for Volunteer Am bulance men for South Africa Supt. Turner thr ew himself heartily into th e moyem e nt and materially assisted in the "aising and equipp in g th e 59 111 n who volunteered from th e Leicester Corps.

Supt. Turner is naturally proud of the fact Ih <lt he was one of the 6rst to receive the Long Service. Medal prese nt ed by t h e Order, which ,, as bestowed upon him at Marlborough House in January, 1900, by the present King.

Anlbulance work in Leicester owes much t o Mr. Turner for he is at a ll tim es s trivin g to further it s a m o ngst his fellow-townsmen, b y l:e is univ er sa lly adm ir ed-alike for bis courtesy and gema hty of t e mp er. "V e are sur e th at his comrades in Leicester, as well as "first-ai de rs " in o th er parts of the c untry wh o have had th e pleasure of meeting Mr. Turner, will r e-echo our wi sh th a t for m any years th e Leicester Corps may haYe th e advantage of his able adminis trati ve abi lit y

HEywooD.-On Saturday, Jul y] 9th, the members of the Heywood Division of the were inspected in the Technical School, Heywood. Assistant-Commissioner Derham was inspecting officer. Th e re were on parade Superintendent H ardman (who was in command), First Officer Ashworth, and other mem bers of the division. The In specting Officer first examined all the books and returns for the yea r, and expressed satisfaction with the manner in which they had been kept and prepared Afterwards the men went through stretcher drill and bandaging.

MIDDLESBROUGH AND CLEVELAND CENTRE.-On Saturday, Jul y I9th, by th e kind invitation of 1r. W. H. A. \Vh arton, J.p. , the annual review in connection with the Midd lesb r o ugh and Cleveland Centre of S.J.A.A. took pl ace in the g rounds of Skelton Castle . Th e weather was thr eatenin g, but kept fair u ntil the function was complete. A procession was formed o n Skelton Green, headed by th e Vol unt eer Band, conducted by Sergeant Smith, and then marched to the Castle grounds. The Brotten Old Band and the Brotten Temperance Band also took in the procession.

FIR T-AID TO THE \V oUNDED.-,Vith a view to the extension of Ambulance instruction in In dia, as urged by th e Secretary of State, it has been decided, that all officers and soldiers o f p.very branch of the ServIce should be in stru c ted in th e applicat ion of first field dressing of woun dsj and, secondly, that all Warrant - onCommissioned Officers, a nd six addItIOnal men m every Battery, H a lf-Squad r on .or \ltive, should b e instructed ]J1 r end e nn g FlrSt-AId to the wound e d.

A Medical Officer's Experiences at the Front.

By J. HASELWOOl) ROBERTS, Civ il Surgeon.

\ \'E embarked on the Dominion liner" Canada "-one of the finest of the transports-on January I 9th. She was taking out, besides details for different regiments, about 800 men for the Sou t h African Constabulary, and a very fine set of men they were

The voyage was very agreeable, though there is a good deal of monotony in a journey to the Cape as, except for schools of porpoises and flying-fish, there is nothing to see.

On the way out the "Canada" called at St. Helena to disembark some details, and to take back to Capetown the (Jeneral who had come oyer with the Boer prisoners in the 7, Mongolian," which arriyed an hour after us

Leave having been gi\'en to go ashore, some went to the interior of the I sland to see Napoleon's tomb and the Boer prisoners' camp, whilst others strolled about the to.wn of Jamestown, and went up Jacob's ladder, wh1ch conSIsts of about 700 steps

The Boer prisoners are very ingenious in making 10),s. One, that caused great amusement on the voyage to the Cape, was a box which, when the lid was drawn back, released a snake of gaudy appearance. This was lefr on a table, as if forgotten, and the unsuspecting victin: coming along would see the box, and then draw back the lJd to see what was inside, when the snake would spring out and strike the hand of the person holding the box; and ns its mouth had a sharp projection, it caused great surprise to the inquisitive individual and often give him a good start, as he would be quite unsuspicious of anything ot the sort being in the box. Many other toys were equally ingenious.

Many of the Boer prisoners were employed making new roads, etc., in the Island, and for this work they received wages. Any who liked were thus enabled to have employment.

\ Ve reached Capetown about 9 p.m on the 8th of February, but did not disembark until the morning of the loth. The voyage out had thus taken us ninetcen days, as the ship was delayed for 36 hours, being anchored off for some repairs which had been necessitated by a slight accident caused at starting, when the" Manhattan" drifted into us while being turned. Little or no medical work was done on the way out.

Capetown is a pleasant town with some good shops

The Government Buildings, Standard Bank, Post Office and Station are very fine buildings The Botanical Gardens are also interesting. The town is in possession of a fine service of electric trams. The cabs are painted yellow, and are quite different to those in other places Each cab has its name written on the back- similar to a ship's stern-so that it makes them very easy to identify On the afternoon of the r rth we commenced our journey up on board a troop-train. Travelling by a troop-tram 1S very d fferent to travelling by the mail. It is .much slower, and as there was no special haste then, the Journey was not fast. The line being single all the way from Capetown to Pretoria, and also from Durban one can estimate the enormous difficulty there bas been getting up supplies. The two lines join at Elandsfontein, which 1S. a klnd. of of JOhannesburg. On account of the lmes being slllgle the trains have to cross at the stations and sidings, which arc about five miles apart.

A I n.- August, T 902

With the mail there is no delay, as the crossings are all timed but in the case of a t roop-tra in there is necessarily often' a good deal of delay, as frequen.tly it has to wait a quarter or half-an-hour for another tram to pass Thus one is able to get off at intervals and stretch one's legs .

Travelling, however, is not so cramped as in England, as the trains are of corridor form, with a platform between the carriages, where onc can sit look .out on the country. Besides this, the rail bemg laid to SUIt the and there being a climb of 4000 or 5000 feet to negotlate to get up country, the gradients are frequent and steep, often one in 60 and sometimes one in 50 or less. Thus at one time the train may be travelling at 30 or 40 miles an hour on a down-rrradient on a level stretch, but when a clim b b has to be taken the space IS so slow, that on the trooptrain, which, in our case was a heavy one, some got down and ran beside the train, and then when the pace was increased they jumped on the platform again, the trains being quite easy to get into although on the move.

\\' e passed \V orcester in the night, and at six the next morning the train passed the River l\1ou.ntain, the climb being made by a successIOn of curves \\'lth a very steep gradient, and this continued for se.\'cral miles.. The view here is ,"cry fine and the scenery 1S the prettiest on the route the view obtained frolll the train as it climbs the of the Hex River Valley ueing remarkably pretty. One sees the railway perhaps .a mile across the valley running parallel at a h1gher altitude, but necessitating the train going three or four miles to reach.

After this ascent has been made the train passes shor<-ly into the Karroo J )esert. The climate of the Karroo Desert is pleasant and salubrious, and especially suitrlble for phthisical cases. The scenery is unintercsting- being veldt, whicb, wben there is no rain, is brown, witl: only scrubby vegetation, and lines of kopjes on either sl.de varying distances of a mile or more. De .l\ ar Junction lS reached after a journey of 500 miles. Here the line [or Bloemfontein turns to the East, while the line for Kimberley and Mafeking continues to the Torth

The Boers had re-invaded, and De Wet was constantly reported to be near tbe line, so our progress was excessively slow at night. De Wet must have been ubiquitous if all the reports of the places where he was said to havc becn near, or to have crossed the lines, were correct.

At that time the blockhousc system had not come into force, so it was then much easier to cross or disturb the line Since the blockhouse system has been introduced the line has been made practically as safe as travelling in England. This system has tllUS proved a great success in, at least, one direction, by rendering communication easier, and the carriage of passengers and supplies free from the risk run before the houses were erected

The blockhouses are about three-quarters of a mile apart, a'ld though only held by a few men, yet, as they arc quite protected against rifle fire, they are quite capable of holding out for some time against a much largcr force of the enemy until assistance can be rendered them.

The blockhouses and armoured trains, which could not have been of much assistance in tbe earlier stages of the war, when the Boers had the usc of heavy guns, are now of very great advantage, and the benefit derived is not to be lightly cstimated.

At Naawpoort Junction the line for Bloemfontein turns again to the orth.

Hloemfontein was reached at half-past two on the Friday afternoon, Februa ry 15th. We stopped there for further instructions as to the different places we wcre to proceed to Those who went on to E lctndsfo nt e in l1nd P I'ctor ia

August, 190:2.

-FIRST

b h 111al'l train. leaving Bloemfontein on the proceedcd y e Saturday mormng l' I

Bloemfontein lies in tbe pl.am, but has not 11l1g specla to be noted about it, though, lIke all South Afncan towns it is ligbted by electricity

The mail passed the night at a about four lTHles f h )e \Vet's farm was as trams were not then rom were '. b' t' fo allowed to travel by night. Elandsfontem, t e Junc r Johannesburg, was reached about 10 on the ay morning, the 17th Y k h'. The country here reminds one very much of or S lIe, from the number of mineheads to be seen Preto:-la reacbed about two in the afternoon. Pretona-wblch has often been described-is a pleasant town surrounded by hills and has plenty of trees - a great contrast to many other The climate is for the most part agreeable, tl:e

Principal drawback being the of thunderstorms 111 fl e summcr. The Government bUlld1l1gs are very fine, and of the shops are very good. roads werc very bad there, but have since been greatly lmproved.

Railway Ambulance.

The Great Western Railway members of tbe.S.]..i\.:B.: h - 'ed- with tbe Imperial Yeomanry Hospital, \\ele w 0 sen· S t" p 'or to leav tertained to luncheon at Padd1l1gton ta n "for Devonshire House. }.[r. G. 1hlls,

]. T. Allen, superintendent of the line, and other ChI\ officers of the C.\V.R Company, welcomed the men bac from South Africa

E b (L B C) Railway Division of The -< ast ourne ., '.' .' f

• ..

I S J \. n made their first public appearance 111 um.orm t le ···2·:d the occasion being the old dlllner on J 3 ; t of tbe proposed CoronatIOn proand chtldrCSns padrent J \Y. Wilks was in charge. The g ramme upenn en· .' bl . d d deal of attention then serV1cea e men attracte a goo. 'f being much ad 1111 red. unl o\m t" nder Corporal Holloway was in Devonshire i'J.. sec IOn u S' d S 1 ools One case lace during tbe massing of the un ay c 1. Top I ( I 'ld fainted) was reported and attended to. on 1Iclose of the day a message was. that an f war. '- b t1dl11gs 1I1 course 0 d t had taken place on some 1I 1 acci .en _ tl field. Five men wlth stret.che.r anc erectlOn neal 1e. I d d were m tJme to satchel were : )at:nd take the poor der valuable first-aJd (vide the less,'. l' (who had fallen 20 ft.) to the hospItal, were 1e IS still detained .

II 1 r J ittlejobn of Inver- " PEP I>EF I -}.1r. .l. exanc e" 'b 1 11) \. ", 7 )re ented a handsome am u ance charron, who rccdentl) Jl t Sl 'ltion on July 3otb, through bed to the i \ ber een Olll e . .> d ->acb R \. l)ugrid station superllllcndent, presenle eo. 11 t. 1 '. d b 1 lce men at the station of tbe seventeen cert1ficate am u ar _ r.. 1 The 'I d leraency case for IlISt aJC. with Holmes lan yen. b ·t·. bandacTe I f llowmg req U1Sl es .- e b c.ase contal)ns .L d?' f ons rollcr bandages, surgeons' lmt, (illustr.atcd WIt 1 11 'laster ready refcrence card, ng plaster ISlllg ass p " . strappt, ." t urniquet, tweezers, surgcon 5 Pll1S, waterproof al sc'lssors and camel-hall' rall)lns SUI ('ICe , 1 safety ptnS, surgl I' b ar-" "ery neatly rrot up, ane ,'1 \. Itogether Lle cases " b penci . 1 1 to the mcn in any emcrgcncy. should prove very use L1

of smart nmbulance work SPRINCHE_\.D.-An I-lull and t ook place in connection With an aCCIdent on the

Barnsley Railway at on July 28th . A named Frank Kenniwell got nipped bet\vem an and a tender, receiving injuries to the chest, &c. Supt. Wtlson, of the Western Division, was summoned and made the spot, which was a quarter of a mile away. Upon arrival he rendered first aid, and then sen t fo: a tend.er h;d man conveyed to Cannon-street station, which IS 5:1 miles away. Upon arrival here be w,-,s transferred to tbe ambulance wagon, whicb had been sent and was to tbe Royal Infirmary. }'rom the tune of mfor·· mation to arriving at the Royal Infirmary, 64 rmles, only three-quarters of an hour was occupied.

The Order of st. John.

THE King h1.S been graciously pleased to san.ction the following appointments to the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England :-

KNIGHT OF JUSTICE.

Norman Hay Forbes, Esq., F.R.C.S.Edltl. (from Knight of Grace).

KNIGHTS OF GR.\CE.

Fran<;ois Donald Mackcnzie, Esq. (from Esqune).

Artbur James, Esq. William Vesey Harrel, Esq. Colonel the Hon. Sir Wtlham Borden, 1".C. i\LG. (from Honorary ASSOCiate).

LADlE OF GRACE.

Helen, Irs. }.lall Stuart. , _ Louisa Jane, }'Irs. Herbert Campuell (from Honorary Associatc). f B df d Her Grace .\.deline l\Iane, Duchess 0 e or

I conllection with the HeJ.lth E:-.hibition, to be held t from September 9th to thc 27 th , by a . _ . it has been decided to offer a Samtary Institute, d t d t the following mUlll11ed 11 for motor vehlcles a ap eo. . I

1. 11 ' ater-carts road-sweepll1g machmes, sop Pal IJurlJoses .- I, r a CI -t dust-carts ambulances, dlsmlcctll1 b - d sca\"engmg Cal S" an Full particulars as to entnes may vans and fire engmes. l' C T Kilgallin at the be obtained of the curator, 1. '. "i offices of the Institute, Margaret-street, London,

P n E The Duchess of Albany was ROPO::,E -,A J I " at t t a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, u y ,)0, d a 1 l'tropole of the Committee of the and e Sailors,' Homes I . h orar\! pres I Royal Hlg lness lS on ) t tl e Lady layoress, 'd d d there were also presen 1 pres1 e , an 1 Chubb Lady Sayory, Lady Ii urley, Lady Broadbent, Lad)'k 'SI'r .'uthur Trendell and '1 1 11 Lad) ."1 -ernlan ;. Lady 1 ars la,' bl' _ I ed that at a recent C'. Cbu ) exp am olr e. b and Sailors' Home meet1l1g of the solcl1el lS I ad)' been promised-It was hI' £ 16 000 las are, whle near) 'E .1 'b t' rllight be held next year d t lat an XlI lIOn . , d 1 d raclical working of Soldiers an illustrative of the use an p the Em ire. A number of Sailors' Homes 111 all parts of _ P ed and after the .[ h 1 l eady been ptOm1s, , gl ts ac r 11 articles and furniture exhibited Exhlb1tJOn was over, a th th1'rt),-nine Homes now at b d · t-'b ted among e .' 1 would c IS t I u' H es to be bUIlt by all I . t, seven new om . work and tle t\\en)- " with the Exhibition It was of the Fund. In ,\mbulance and "First proposed to have _. e gymnastic and pbyslcal drill, .\.ssaults-at-.\.rms, en lC drill.

St. John Ambulance Brigade. A CORPS .

Osborne Challenge Shield was won by the Cyclist DI.vlSlon after a spirited contest, Beckton Product Division and South Metropolitan Gas Division bell1g thIrd. IVe wIsh we could give a more detailed of the competition, but as we never received any mtlmatlOn of the date .on which it was to be held, we could not send a representatIve of this Journal, and no official has be.en sent us. IVe congratulate the dIvISIon on thIS, theIr second victory, and trust that thIS IS only the precursor of other victories in the future.

!he for the lassey-Mainwaring Cup 111 connectIOn WIth this corps took place on Saturday, July 12th, at the Charterhouse. There was a good entry of teams, and the work throughout reached a high standard of Dr. Roberts and Dr. Gordon Brown acted as Ju?ges, and theil decision placed the teams in the followmg order of merIt :-Causton's Division I' East Ham, 2; S.outh Metropolitan Gas Company 3. fhe cup, gIven by the Hon. W. F B. P. for. Central Fin.s bury, was handed to th e winners b' Mrs. HaIg-Brown, Wife of the Master of the Charterhous!. , \fterwards the teams and VISItors were entertained WIth tea and strawberries by the deputy -commissioner Inspector-General Belgrave Jinnis, R.N.

PROVINCIAL CORPS.

.. BARRow.-The third annual inspection of the Barrow DIVISIon was held in playground, Rawlinson-street Schools, on evenll1g, July 31St, Dr. E. B. Pooley of Dalton, bemg inspecting officer Hon S ' D I urgeon oug as of the Division, was also present. The dIVISIOn was paraded 111 two sections under the command of Supt. J?11l1 McLarty, and 1st Officer P. IV. Letsmam. The ul1lform and equipment of th d'" , h fi' e IVlSlon t e. rst to clalm.the attention of the inspectin officer these bell1g found satisfactory After\vards the g 11 h .' men went t r?ug the vanous bngade drill and stretcher exercise ThIS brought the parade to a close. The inspecting office; then men, complimenting the ofTicers and men of the dlvlslo.n on their appearance and smartness in the vanous evolutlOns whIch they had been called t perform. upon 0

BIRCIIWOOD.-The members of the Birchwood Cor s have recently been supplied with new regulation and ,to celebrate the event they assembled at Somercotes' August 3rd, with the object of attendin' J)IVl11e at St. Andrew's Church SwanwI'ck Tl g ",as a f I d ,. lere aIr y goo muster. The men presented a smart as they marched off, headed by the band and S\\ am\lck Church was duly reached 'h h t d h . " ele t e men en ere. eartdy ll1to the service, which was conducted b the ,vIcar (Rev .. Stanley A. Pelly). At the close of serVIce NatIonal Anthem was heartily sung by the congregatIOn: Upon returning to Somercotes the by the Officers in charge O\\,ISS, an lrst Officer J 1]) 1 I 1 · '. " aVle"3, upon their smartness anc c ean mess.

On 6th, this Corps, amongst others will take part 111 a grancl review in the grounds of Shipley Hall,

1902.

the Reviewing Officer bein a General Sir Redvers Buller, K.C.M.G., KCB., V .C b

The first annual inspection in connectIOn WIth the division of the S. J. A. B . took at the drill hall, Holdenhurst-road on WednesdaY-,eve,nmg,Ju113oth. The officer Dr. Laurie, of h ,edruth, for No.2 District; and others present mcluded Dr. Thompson (Bournemouth Dr. Heygate Vernon, Dr. Wilson (Winton) Su.pt. } oster, Mr. C J. Austin (supt.), and others. dnlls gone through very creditably in the course of the evel11ng.

Saturday, July 26th, in conn,ectlOn wIth. thIS DlVlslOn, a competition was held on Peel Croft, a very 111terestlllg programme havll1g been arranged by the (Mf. T. Haynes). There were two comand contesting teams ran each other very close. Three prizes only had been offered, but in conse9uence of Messrs. Truman's team and Overseal ties for thlt'd Col. Goer gave an additional prize. Results:

CompetItIOn for Burton and district, 1idland Railway Company, I Messrs. farston, Thompson and Son 2' Messrs. Truman and Co. and Overseal 3 (tI'e) C .) . f ompetlt;on or the Boroug.h of Burton medals: Trustees of Messrs, I eter Walker and S ons. The J'udges were Drs \\T I St k N ",owe eV111, and Col. Goer. Col. Goer distributed pnzes at the close, complimenting the men upon their smart work.

June 24th, a fully equipped Ambulance StatlOn was opened in the Queen 's Park, Caterham by W. Garland Soper, Esq., J.P., CA , as a memorial the late Henry J. B.orer, a . member of the Division who dl.ed at Bl.oemfontell1, whde serving with the Portland 1, Ield HospItal.

" The building built of the very best material-red bLIck, Bath stone, WIth best Broseley tile roof. qver ,the ?oorway is a white marble tablet with the m leaded letters: "This l\mbulance SLatlOn IS erected ll1 memory of Henry James Borer a mem ber of the Caterham ,Division of the St. J Am.bulance Bngade, who dIed at Bloemfontein South Apfnca, June I900, while doing duty the orlland held HospItal."

Above this is a large St. John's Cross in the centre of the gable

The are folding, of upright boards with JOll1ts WIth ornamental fittings.

serving as a store for the material, the ?Ulldll1g w111 be used for holding classes and for drilling in 111 Wll1ter. A 12ft. seat is fitted on each side with to allow the scat to drop down when' more I OOI'!lIS leqUlred Cupboards are provided for stores, and fItted 111 one corner enclosed in cover. Tbe IIghtmg. IS . gas and hCc:ting by gas-stm e. The inside wa,lls. are fil1lshed rcd bnck with small white mortar ro<?f is matchboarded inside, with rafters and IS varnished, as is the whole of the lllslde wood work 111cludmg fiOOl' The I h b d , wor ( as een out by 1\1r. T. E. Marchant, who served with Borer Wit the Portland Hospital. equipment of a latest pattern wbeel1;,11htary .stretcher special lifting oard b ) case of F HSt. Aid matenal; surgical baversack' water- ottles and washll1g-basins. )

August, 19° 2 -FIRST

An enlarged photograph of the late Comrade Borer, 24 in. x 18 in. has been hung in the Station. The cost of the building and equipment is £14 0 , of which nearly ,£ 100 has been subscribed. Several members of the Portland Hospital staff have contributed, and Supt. Riley will be pleased to receive donations from any other member who has not yet done so. The whole of the members of the Division have keys of the Memorial Building and can obtain the material at any time.

CRANFORD -About eighty members of the S. J. A. B. went to Cranford on Sunday, .August 3rd, for a Church parade. The men put in an appearance from Kettering, Burton Latimer, Rothwell, Broughton, Twywell, and Cranford, and, headed by the Burton Latimer to:vn marched to St. John's Church, where a very lmpresslve service was held. The corps was in command of Chief Supt. F. T. Trenerv

CRAWSHAWBOOTH. - On Saturday, July 26th, the annual inspection of the Crawshawbooth Ambulance and urSll1g Divisions took place in the Assembly Room. The officer inspecting them was District Superintendent Secretary A. L. Garnett, of Burnley. Compston was in charge of the Ambulance !?lvlsl<?n? and Lady Supt. Miss A. Butterworth of the N urSll1g DIVISIOn. The Rawtenstall Divisions of the above were inspected at the same time. After being put through a number of exercises, Superir.tendent Garnett the Divisions, and highly complimented tbem on then smart turn out and their work.

DONCASTER. - At the meeting of the Doncaster Town Council, held on August 13th, one man a.nd six Imperial Yeomen, who had served.1I1 South Afnca during the late war, were presented WIth the honorary Freedom of the Borough.

EXETER -Mr. ·Willey has recently instituted at his works a Branch of the S.J.A.A. Seeing in a works of such dimensions as his-where accidents are liable to be of frcquent occurrence-the providing means of applying the benefits of FlfSt Aid 111 as competent a manner as possible, the above has spared neither trouble nor. expense to eqUIp the Branch with a complete and extensIve outfit.

Dr. Domville instructed the Class, and, under hIS tuition, the first bat ch of twentyeight-have been presented for exam1l1atlOn to Dr. Jones, of Torquay, for "First Aid" Certificates. The 'yhol e of the Class, without one exception, were granted CertIficates.

HALLAToN,-On S unday, July 27th, the Hallaton Division held their annual Church Parade. The Market Harborough and Medbourne Divisions with Superintendent Skeffington were also on parac;le. After marching round the village to the accompamment of the Market Harborough Volunteer Band,: short service was given in. the church, with an appropnate add.ress from Mr. Afterwards those on parade and frIends were at the Hallaton Division's beadquarters, the Bewlcke Arms. The band gave a selection of music in the evening after church, near the Cross, which was li s tened to and appreciated by a number of people from the surroundJl1g villages.

HULL.-In each of the parks a detachment of the Hull Corps h a d a station e rect e d for th e tr eatment of

AI D,- 23

accidents, and also for the reception of lost children. At the East Park a tent was erected facing the platform and fire,vorks, and was in charge of the eastern division of the Corps, assisted by members of the Nursing Division. During the day five cases were treated, and about twentyfive children restored to their parents.

At the athletic sports, Boulevard, held on Aug. 2nd, Sergt. A. C Carter and other members were on duty. Shortly after starting in a i-mile bicycle heat, a man named Crossland had the misfortune to fall, throwing at the same time a man named Inkson. Crossland received a bruised and cut right shoulder, elbow and knee; and Inkson a severe bruised and cut left elbow and knee, and lacerated wound on right eye Both were treated by the above, and Inkson subsequently taken to a doctor to have his eye attended to.

LIVERPOOL.-The proceedings of the Liverpool Tramways Committee, on August 7th, took an unusual turn. There was an invasion of the Committee-room by a body of forty-three District Inspectors, Ticket Examiners, Drivers, and Conductors in uniform, and the Chairman (Mr. Higginbottom, M.P.) most heartily welcomed them all as they were introduced by the General 't\Ianager (i\Ir. Bellamy), and Traffic Superintendent C W. Mallins). They had taken the course of lessons in "First Aid" given by the local Medical Officers cf the and had successfully passed the prescnbed exam.matlOn. accordingly appeared before the Committee to recelve their Certificates.

The Chairman said it gave the Committee the greatest pleasure to. find. that so. many of their employes had gained these "FlfSt AId" Certificates. He they might all care.-that. aCCIdents would occasionally happen 111 connectIOn WIth the Tramways undertaking, and it must be a great advantage to the Service to haye men employed who would be able to render "First Aid" assistance.

The annual inspection of the Oldhanl Corps took place on July 26th, at the drill hall, the inspecting officer being Derham:

On his arrival the ll1spectll1g officer was receIved by the corps, drawn up in open line, and m':1stering over 120 of all ranks. The march past and other drIlls were gone as well as practical work in the application of bandages, 111 stretcher work and first aid

Assistant-Commissioner Derham afterwards addressed the members. He said it was his first vi.sit. to Oldham, and after inspecting or .fou.rteen dIVISIons all oyer the Lancashire and CheshIre dlstnct, he cou!d truthfully say that the Oldham Co rps was the most effiCIent he had inspected during the year.

SHI PLEy,-It is understood that a review of the ton and District Ambulance Corps held 111 the gro unds of Shipley H.all,. by the of E. M. Mundy. The revlewmg officer wl11111 all probablht) be General Redvers Buller, V.C

WOLLASTOI .-As a memorial to the crowning 0 King Edward VII., a new building has presented to the Wollaston Division, orthamptonshlre. ilIr. Pratt Walk er (Chairm an of the School Board) performed the opening ceremony, Filst-Class Sergt. ,Vatts accepted the aift o n behalf of hIS fellow,members. b

A u g ust,

19:°.::2.:..,________________________

FIRST AID

_I{"DUST 20, J902,

TilE long looked for Coronation has The Coronation cume and passed, and the people of the of their greatest Empire that the world has ever Majesties seen have testified by th eir joy ful KingEdward VII. acclamations how deeply their Sovereign and and bis beloved Consort are enshrined QueenAIexandra. in the hearts of their subjec ts. H ad the Coronation taken place on the date originally fixed, it might have been, perhaps, more imp osi ng, but one can truthfully say that the greet in g extended to their Majesties would not have shown so effectually th e depth of affection that exists between th em and th eir people.

E,'er since the fateful message of postponement, the Tation has looked and longed for the opportunity to prove their loyalty and devotion, and on "\ugust 9th they gave full vent to their feelings. Twice the 1\ation has watched besidc the bedside of their King and prayed the Great Ruler of all destinies to spare his life, and that prayer has been answered; and to-dJ.Y King EVWARD's people realise more deeply, perhaps, than any other Tation how much this country owes to the Divine Ruler.

The .\.mbulance arrangements made by the Military l \uthorities and the Police, in conjunction with the St. J ohn ..\mbulance Brigade, were of a most complete character, as will be seen by a reference t o th e Dai{y jlfaLl, which published on August 8th a capital map of the route, with every Am bu lance Station depicted by a small black c ross

The Metropolitan Corps of tbe St. J ohn Ambulance J3rigade had 59 stations and a staff of about 886 of all ranks on duty, and treated during the day I,3 24 casualties, including 1,257 cases of fainting, two of fractures and 65 contusions and wounds. The various detachments paraded at 6 J..I1l. and proceeded to their several stations, many of their members remaining on duty until about 5 a.m the next morning. localities where thoroughfares conve rge, and where the crowds were consequently the densest, th e ambulance men were necessarily tbe busiest. Thus, at Gate J +7 cases were treated; in Trafalgar-square and Northumberland-avenue 70 cases occurred; the sta tion at Drummond's Bank reported about 10 cases of fainting, and a person \\'ho was kicked by a horse, and ake n to Charing Cross I I ospital; in Warwick-street, Cockspurstreet, 2 cases \\'I:!re rl:!ported; at \\ aterluo-place th e to tal was close on 80, and at Brick-street, Piccadilly, abou t 35 , mostly fainting illS. i'\umerous cJ.sualties of a similar nature took plact: at and around Hy de Park-corner, Horse

Piccadilly, and D ow ning street.

Guards-avenue, Down -stree t,

The thanks of the public are certainly due to the mem bers of the various organizat ions for the way in which th ey carried out th eir duties . London may nut yet possess a regular ,Am bulance Service such as is possessed by large cities in other countries, but we venture to say that in no other city in th e world co uld ambulance arrangements for dealing with larg e crowds b e more carefully plann e d o r more effec tually carried out.

THIS terrib e disaster, which led to the The Queen loss of ten valuable li ves, having been Victoria Street e n quired into by the City Coroner, we Fire. are now free to discuss it in detail, with a view to the lessons to be learned if tiJere is to be no repetition of so sad and regrettable an incident. Firstly, we must emphasise the fact that the escapes in the City must certainly be, at least, 70ft. in length, if th ey are to be of service in the case of nre occurring in any other lofty structure 'lYe would also impress on property owners the Jesirability of not only pro\ iding means of escape by the roof, but to provide chutes which shou ld be periodically tested in order that the employes might learn to be accustomed to their Llse.

The authorities at Southwark Bridge-road are, we learn, cons id ering the question of motor engines and mutor fire escapes , but with our experience of the length of time it takes to make up their mind to allY definite action, we cannot think this satisfactory Messrs. I erryweather have perfected, as is well-known, a workable and reliable motor fire engi n e That it is capable or improvement we admit, but it would serve as a working model.

We are glad to learn that 1\1r. E O. SACHS, the energetic and able Chairman of the British Fire Prevention Committee, in conjunction with the London Exhibitions Company, is arranging for a Fire Exhibition ne:-..t year, where Conferences will be beld and , we hope, advantage will be taken by th e Metropolitan Chiefs to meet the Fire Chiefs of other Countries, and disc uss with them tbe best practical methods of fighting fire. Splendid isolat ion may be a good thing, elf as diplomacy goes, in connection with the policy of this cou'ntry, but in regard to such questions as in volve the well-being, and of ttim es the lives of th e citizens, we have no ri gbt to adopt a spi rit of in s ular prejudice, but sboulJ obta in th e best article that ca n be procured in any country By this ,ye do n ot mean to say th at II'I:! endorse till! "ie\\'s so freely exp ressed by our \m erican conLemporarics. In the way uf luss uf life, for all th eir yaunted boasts, the l\m er icans a re fur and away ahead of lhis coun tr y.

We can n ot conclude without exp r ess in g o ur s tron g di s-

approval of th e un-English way In which the 13riga:1e and its Commander were treated by a section of the London press during the progress of the recent enquiry the Coroner said in his summing up, the one bright spot lL1 the disaster was the bravery of the men of the Fire Brigade and the Salvage Corps the latter body, we would especially compliment Major Fox and his men , In the course of the evidence it was pointed out that pnor to the arrival of the Firemen, the Salvage men were on the roof prepared with ladders and ropes to get into the building, and were about to make the attempt when \\ EST appeared, and the Salvage men, in accordance with allowed him to have the prior right, and assisted h1L11 111 hIS gallant attempts to saye life We shuuld have preferred to recount that at the Inquest he in return rendered a due meed of praise to the men of a service as brave as his own; but wc reg ret to say that such was not the case. It would ha ye en hanced the glory of his heroic action had he done so .

Voluntary Ambulances in War.

,/'.,T the meetin rr of the British ::'II edical held at M anchester Hutt on submItted a paper .r\..id to the Sick and in W ar." He s.Uld that at the outbreak of the South \\ ar the l\IedIcal and H ospital arrangements were qUIte unable to the requirements. There was no .lack of zeal abl.lt) the work was undermanned Jll every partIcular. It \\ as evident from the beginning that ,-olun.tary help would be necessary, and the assIstance so had been a distinct advance on what been m pre\'ious wars. The supply of HospItal was particularly important. The S.J..\.B. had. supplIed men, a nd e:-..cellent accounts had been receIved. of the th ey had done th eir He thought mIght .to that ociety as a recrultll1g ground, for It had dUlll1g ItS twenty-fL ,'e years' existen ce certi fLcated o,-er 500,000 men, and anothl:!r possible source of ,would _ be th: Yoluntet:r Brigade Bearer Cum P?mes. I here ,\ ould be excellent opportunities of promotLun for well-educated men with a knowledge of pharmacy.

In the course of the discussLUn Colonel. Jukes adyocated the formation of two classes of OrderlIes, the higher one to consist of men to act as. nurses. . , Other speakers spoke uf of bel.n,g prepared for war, and the necessIty that COt:l p al1leS should be draml from Army Med,Ieal Se.rnce Corps One speaker said the work accomplIshed 111 South .\fncaconsidering the material sometl:ll1!? to 1 at He d id not thlllk therl:! was any Il1cIdent man-e recorded in the Bible to It.

A resolution recommendIng the Council, to appoInt a sub-committee to devise a scheme for representation of the three branches of tbe MedIcal Ser\"Ices on the Council was approved

(. Fir.,t aidero, " ,, ill note with that OIlC of l.hc t\\'o St ] ohn'o, mcn mentioncd by Lord I'ltchener III hi':> fin:d ',,' -t', S 1)[ Cecil Baker (Ccci Craemc), and they. \\'Ill also I CpOI IS, 1I }' 1 1 ,1 nl!clecl slnrc Ollr reurcl on earning that Slipl. )a "er :as )een 111 I ,t"> 1 'I _. I r · a-clc1ent \\e 111 ·1 home partially pantly sc( t lC eSlI 0 <1I1.' C I' 1 bim a speecly and recm 'e l-Y, a \\"Ish that II ill be s laJ ec by a ll ,,'110 knoll' him.

Presentation of Medals to Yeomanry Hospital Staffs.

THE deep interest which the Queen takes in any work appertaining to the care of the sick and wounded. was again exemplified on ::'IIonday, >\u g I l.th , when her Majesty attended at Devonshire House, and, lt1 the prelly garden attached to the ducal mansion, presented war medals to a number of the medical officers, nurses, and ward orderlies who served with the various Imp erial Yeomanry Hospitals in South Africa . .

It is worthy of note that the management and control have throughout been U1 the hands of a ladies' committee. Some 2,000 patients were treated during the war. l\bout £127,000 wa,s ,collected lt1 scriptions and the surplus funds remall1lt1g the commIttee intend to 'devote to the support and training of the of those who died or have during the late war. The medIcal, surgical nurs111g staffs 'were drawn from the principal 111 the United Kinadom, ,,-hile the ward orderhes and rank and file were by the yarious Yolunteer Corps the St. John .:\mbulance Brigade and the NatlOllal } lre Bri O'ades Dnion. The staff nUl:nbered. about 70 ?· Of b these eighteen died while .on sernce, whIle a certa111 proportion are !'et in outh Afnca.

Ahout thIrty-fiye members of the twenty-five Nursing Sisters,. and 150 \\ ard attended to receive theIr guerdon for ,alour performed in a non-combatiye from the hands of the Queen herself. The ?lIedical Officers 'were formed,up on the left. On the right were the rank and file, some 111 .the familiar khaki, some in the uniforms of and pol Ice, others in the e\"eryday dress of the Cl\lhan. In flOnt of all were the T ursing Sisters. !hey stood on the green sward regardles5 of formatlOn. TheH s otlessly white head-dresses, theIr capes of scarl.et ttue worn over neat fitting gmYL1S, lent a touch of PICtUI esqueness to the scene f \\'

Accompanying the Queen .were the Pnnce 0 a P \ T'c torl'u Dr'ince and Pnllce s Charles of Den mal k, nncess 1 <, r 1 f C \..m onast those present were the Duc leSS? .one - • 1 be t ss Howe the Countess of \\ ar\nck, nauobt tle oun e, R b L db, R 1 child Lady J eune Earl and Countess 0 erts, a) ot lS , , _ 1 S' - T r ell)'-Kenn)' Yiscount Kilchener, 11 '>.. l\Ia or-General Sir Henry Trotter, &c "J Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener both wore the newl '-bestowed Order of l\Ient. )Her :l\Iajest)' shook hands WIth Lord h and with Lord Roberts, and was then escorted to the tent 111 t f the terrace the band of the Scots Guards playlllg cen re o b _ the National .!\ nthem as the Queen the opel1lng al s lb'ef d f -' d The presentation ceremony was a n moye 011\ ar d h t' 0' below r \S their names \"ere calle t ose lraJ ll1b d d the slope leading from the lawn to the terrace, aslcen eh l\l ajest)' stood. The medals receI,·ed,. the w edr 1 'l]tS S'lluted tb ose in ci yili an dress rmsed UL1llurme reCl e " , . h . 1 t wh ile the T urses cunsled, , t elr last medal presented, the Queen, mth the b l ',. scort walked from the terrace, 01\ Illg uf Deyuns 111(' as e ,L did cal '. h s )ectators as sbe entere t le U gra.cdlOusl y tu\. t tlel' dro\"(; away to the Palale they reSI enCl:! s c; were loudly cheered. f .\1 General regret \I"a e"pressed at the absence c r. :Fripp and Colonel S logget t.

Our P ort ra it Ga ll e ry .

l SlMP.30N YEATES, ESQ., SUPJ£RINTE DENT PENRITH AMBULANCE CORPS.

THE subject of our sketch this month was born and educated in the town of Penrith, in the welfare of which he has always taken a townsman's interest.

Mr. Yeates comes of an old Penrith family, and his

From tbe brief record of our friend's life it will be seen that it has not been a wasted one j and on his return from active service it was a bitter disappointment to him that he was not reinstated in his former position as Superintendent of the Corps he founded, and this feeling of diswas equally sbared by many of his friends in Pemith and District-hence the foundation of the Penrith Ambulance Corps. As regards the merits of tbe case we cannot give an opinion, as one side only has been put before us, but we know that in his native town Mr. Yeates is esteemed by all who have been associated with him in his many hobbies, and their verdict is unanimously in his favour. Time, perhaps, may solve the question and remove the friction; in the meantime Mr. Yeates is assured of the personal regard of his many friends, among whom we know are a large number of tbe readers of this Journal.

New Fire Alarm.

August, 1902 . -F I RST

The H is tor y a n d De v elopment of

Manual, Steam and Motor Fire Engines .

By CHAS. T. CROWDEN, M.C.E.I., M.L.A.F.E., M.S.A., &c., &c.

(Continued from page 7·)

Fig. 30 shows a type of Merryweather and Field's

AI D -

Fig. 33 is a Steam Fire Engine constructed by the same firm for the Liverpool Corporation, called the" Holt," made after the Greenwich High Speed pattern. This type replaced the former Twist Bar engines, made by this firm, in Liverpool and other large cities Although these engines were constructed to work on the high speed principle they

business is the oldest in the town, having been founded by his father in the year 18 I7.

In 1881 the "Penrith Swimming Club was formed, and since its foundation Mr. Yeates has allVays taken an active interest in its welfare, having held the position of hon. sec. and treasurer since its inception. In connection with his interest in matters appertaining to swimming, it may be noted that he has frequently acted as judge at swimming and diving sports at Brighton, Keswick, Ullswater, &c. Ambulance \\'ork first obtained Nlr. Yeates as a recruit in 1884, in which year be formed classes for men and womenj and ten years later on be formed the Penrith Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, in whicb, by the unanimous wish of the members, he was appointed superintendent, a position he resigned to proceed to Soutb Africa on active service, where served respectively at Wynberg, Bloemfontell1, Pretona and Kroonstad. On bis return from active service he Kas entertained by the Penrith Lodge of Freemasons, for it may be mentioned he is an ardent and :lctlve .member of craft. Subsequently he was also entertamed by the National Association of Goldsmiths at the Hotel Metropole, Leeds.

.We before alluded to the activity of Mr. Yeates, but 10 passmg we may mention that in the masonic world he is a past provincial officer for Cum berland and Westmorland. Active also in parochial matters, he was for two years church>yarden of the parish church, and he is a member of .the Education Committee of the Literary and ?oclety. For five years he occupied the responSIble of Chairman of the National Retail Jewellers' ASsocJatlOn, and he is still a mern ber of the Executive. .He is an Associa.te of tbe British Horological Institute, m the mterests of whlch he takes a keen interest.

SIR W. B. PREECE, Chief of the Post Telegraph System, and other experts have endorsed as "effective, simple, and instantaneous" a new Fire Alarm System, whose detector is a copper wire running near the ceiling, the whole length of the [I"'om. At its centre a small carbon is suspended over a pair of platinum terminals, all suitably protected and hardly perceptible; and wben the temperature implying danger is reacbed, the inevitable expansion of the wire allows the carbon and platinum to close an electric circuit, which instantly sets the alarm gong ringing, and automatically telegraphs to the. nearest Fire Station. Upon an indicator the position and extent of the outbreak are shown, and, if it spreads, its cause is indicated. Nonoxidising dustproof contacts and reliable Morse transmitters are employed, and, if preferred, a closed circuit can be opened by the same device.

It is claimed that this is the only system not tied to an unalterable call point, which provides for natural heat - fluctuations, due to seasons, industrial operations, grate fires or illuminants. This is effected automatically and inevitably by thc obedience of a metal counterpoise to the laws of expansion and contraction, wbich govern the detecting wire before its counterpoise, while a seasonal or gradual rise or fall produces unison of movement; and there is the same approximate margin between the normal temperature and danger at all times and seasons of the year. No fixed alarm point can do justice to winter as well as summer.

RUSHDEN.-On Saturday afternoon, July 26th, at Rushden, Mrs P. Cave unveiled the memorial to Charles R. Bettles and Arthur Ellis, members of the S. J. A. B., who died of the one at Bloemfontein, the other at Johannesburg, during tbe South African ' Var. The inscription on the monument, which is a red Aberdeen granite obelisk, 9 ft. high and 3 ft. 2 in. wide, standing inside the Newton-road entrance, reads as follows :-" To the memory of Charles R. Bettles, who died at Bloemfontei n , June 29 th , I90o, aged 19 years; and Artbur Ellis, who die? at Jobannesburg, August 2nd, 1900, aged 19 years, whIle serv ing as Volunteer Hospital orderlies in the South African War. This monument is erected by sympathetic friends, 26th] uly, 19°2." Also on the left-hand side of the monument is the text: "Greater love bath no man than tbis, that man Jay down h is life for his friends."

FIG. 30.

Twist Bar Engine, as exhibited by them at tbe Paris Exhibition, 1867.

Fig. 31 represents a Merryweather and Field's later type Twist Bar Engine, as constructed in 1876. .\'lthough

FIG. 33. still maintained the stoking behind and the horizontal engine. The boiler and pumps are constructed similar in every respect to those by Shand's years before. In fact, it is difficult now to tell the different makers' engines apart, with the exception of their nameplates. All makers now build vertical engines stoking behind, and, in fact, entirely as advocated years ago by the late Ir. James Shand, who, in this country, was undoubtedly, one of the pioneers of steam fire engines, after Braithwaite.

(To be continued.)

T rial of Pi re=Extinguishing Ap pliances.

FIG. 3 I.

this type of engine has been advocated by them for a great many years, the slow running engine gave way to a type called the Greenwich Engine, by Merryweather and Sons, Ltd, shown in the next illustration (Fig 32). This slow ,_:--1 ,

FIG. 32. running engine was then found to be heavy and cumbersonIc for the duty it performed. A number of tbe " J:<'ield" Boilers were replaced by others Sll11llar to those of Shand's Cross Tube type.

O:N July 31st several of tbe directors of the Northern Co-Operative Company witnessed a trial of Miller's patent chemical fire-extinguishing appliances. A huge pile of combustible material had been built up, and on a match being applied the pile was soon enveloped in flames. The practical illustration of fire-extinguLshing, which was given in view of a proposal to equip the Northern Co-Operative Company's extensive premises at Berryden with appliances, was carried out by Mr. A. .Gordon, 61, street, Belfast, the maker's representative. The fire havll1g obtained a good hold, Mr. Gordon proceeded to demon strate the possibilities of two of the Miller appliances, these being the "handy" containing two gallons of water, and eJectll1g sIxteen gallons of effervescing fluid to a of 45 feet; large sized "concussion" fire-extll1gUlsher, contall11l1g .SlX gallons of water and ejecting 48 gallor1:s effervesc1l1g fluid to a distance of 50 feet. The spenal virtue of these appliances lies, not in the fOl:ce of but in the chemicals tbrown upon the burnlllg matenal. Each of the appliances is fitted with a "concussion" kno? When this knob is struck with a hammer a stream of flUid, charged with carbonic acid gas, at once issues with great force from the nozzle, which by means of an indiarubber tube can easily be directed to the place on ftre. :Mr. Gordon, baving applied the hammer, walked round the fire once or twice, directing the cbemically-charged water on the with the result that in a few minutes tbe fire was extll1guished, and nothing was left but smouldering and em bers. Thereafter 1\1r. Gordon gave a demonstratlOn sho"'incr bow far and how high the appliances could throw Lhe The )ircctors presenL seemed to be greatly impressed with the fluid, and. expressed themselves satisfied as to the utlhty of the applIances.

ASK YOUR N J] WSAG E NT TO SUPPLY "' FIRST AID " BVERY MONTH.

National Fire Brigades Union.

Al\lBULANCE DEPARDIENT.-Her Majesty the Queen graciously presented the War Medals at Devonshire ,?-ouse, on Ionday, August lIth, to the /unbulance attached to the Ambulance Department of the atlOnal Fire Brigades' Union, who served under Colonel. Sloggett, at the Imperial Yeomary Hospital, ':file following members assem.bled at .Salvage StatIOn, Shaftesbury-avenue, by kll1d permlsslon of Major l-<ox :Firen:ien : Smith, Marlow; George Pame, Newhaven ; George Simmens, Marazion; Herbert H. Cooke, Bedford; G. J. Gravett, Worthing; Ferguson. and Edwards, wards Heath; Newport, Frome; ·Whlte, Battle; Ieabns, Stony Stratford; Warn and Lyons, Watford; Barlbury, Woodstock: Newman, Bedford; Duxbury, Darwen ; ver)" Raymond, Stevens and Horn brook, Cockington, Devon; Willard, Jew Malden; Booker, Bognor; under the charge of the Hon. General Secretary and Dr. Ettles, assisted by Superintendent

The men were ll1spected by Major Fox, vlce-presldent, on behalf of His Grace the Duke of l\larlborough, K.G., who was prevented from attending on account of an important county engagement. After inspection, Major Fox congratulated the men on their valuable service rendered to the Fire Service, and thanked them on behal f of His Grace the Duke of Marlborough, K.8., who took such a great interest in their welfare. The men were then photographed, and afterwards marched to Devonshire House to receive their medals.

The following members afterwards assembled at Devonshire House, and joined their comrades: Pett, Down, R. Webber, Hem, Melluish and Vosper, Exeter; Smith and Slater, Barnes; Sonnenficld, London, E. Abselltees :-One still in South Africa, others on Sicklist-Corporal Stone, Darwen ; Balker, Brierfield; Jenkins, ifarazion; Spilsbury, Malvern; Sawford, Southampton; Brown, Sandown, Isle of Wight; Bartley, Worthing; Hutton, Haywards I-Ieath.

The following, who served, lost their lives through enteric fever :--G. Willmore, Hythe; C. Saunders, Cockington; S. J. Alexander, London.

The oxygen regenerator for purifying vitiated air is being adopted by the Fire Department of Paris, France. It weighs only five pounds, and is based on the principle that sodium bioxide in continual re-action with water will render respirable an atmosphere which it would be impossible otherwise for any living being to breathe. A clockwork apparatus drops at regular intervals pieces of soclium biuxide into a waler section of an aluminium ventilatur. The firemen intending to enter poisonous air put on divers' clress and carry an oxygen respirator COInected with a helmet by two rubber tubes. The apparatus contains ISO grams of sodium bioxicle, which ensures an adequate supply of oxygen for respiration during one hour.

Provincial Fire Brigades.

ALDERSHOT.-Those members of the Aldershot Fire Briaade who have studied ambulance work were not un;ccupied at the Fire Brigade Fete on Bank Holiday They were in readiness with their outfit, under the superintendence of Mr. H. Marshallsay, and they had a total of four cases to deal with Two men, one a Guardsman, and the other a Highland Light Infantry man, over exertecl themselves in a race, and had to be treated for heart failure.

R. B. Turrant having left the town for Southampton, has tendered his resignation as captain of the Andover Fire Brigade, the duties of which office he has carried out with credit to himself and to the satisra' tion of the town. It is expected that Mr. F. A. Beale, the present deputy-captain, will now be asked to take the appointment of captain, a post for which he is eminently fitted.

BURSLEi\1.-0n Thursday, July 31st, a team of the Burslem Fire Brigade were successful in ·winning the Oldbury Licensed Victuallers] Cup in a manual drill for four men, the time being 29 sec. This is the fourth time in succession that the Burslem Brigade have held this cup.

CHEDlSFORIl.-At a meeting of the Council it was decided to purchase a jumping sheet for the fire brigade from Messrs. Godfrey, at £2 17S. 6d.; and an extra ladder for the fire escape.

COVENTRY.-The 41st annual meeting of the Fire Brigade was held on Aug. 13th, with CalA . .i\.rmisha\v, presiding. Lieut. Wright presented a report stating that the total loss from fire during the year had not reached £4,000, though there had been 19 fires in the city. The attendance of members averaged 16·7 men per fire There were 20 members on the brigade roll. The brigade looked fonvard to taking possession of the new station soon. The private brigades, the Chief Constable, and the officers and members of the police force were thanked for their assistance. The statement of general accounts showed a balance at the beginning of the year of £73, and subscriptions £81, total £ 154. The expenses left a balance in hand of £86. The accidental fund had a small balance, and benevolent fund stood at £54. The report and statement of accounts were adopted. Capt. Armisbaw was elected treasurer of the brigade vl·ce the late Capt. Thomas, and Lieut. Wright was re-elected sec.retary.

HAl\IPTON.-In appreciation of the successes gained by the members of the Fire Brigade in the recent national competitions at Margate, the popular captain, Mr. R. G Graham, and Mrs Graham, entertained them to (Iinner at St Alban's on Saturday evening, July 19th.

Ll£YTON.-A contest open to fire brigades in all parts of the kingdom was held at Lejton on August 4th, under the rules of the N. F.B. U.. The results of the chi::f events were :- One Man Drill: Southampton (43 3-5 sec.), T; Ponders End, 2 and 3; Southampton 4. Two Men Drill : Brirrhton (22 4-5 sec) 1· Ponders End 2 and 3· Wood4. The shield [or 'the best aggregate times made in all the contests was won by the Ponders End Brigade.

The new motor fire engine, the "Motor }'ire King,"

August, 1902. -FIRST

was exhibited during the day, and attracted widespread interest.

LIVERPOOL.-At a recent meeting of the Watch Committee reference was made to the disastrous fire which occurred recently in London, and a question \vas put to :Mr. Duncan, the chairman of the Fire Police Sub-committee, with reference to the appliances for the protection of life and property against fire in Liverpool. Mr. Duncan explained that the Liverpool Fire Brigade was in his opinion, well equipped, and in a high state of efficiency. There were a number of horizontal fire escapes from 60 ft. to 75ft. long placed at various parts of the city, and a system of telephone alarms had been provided, which enabled early intimation of fires to be sent to the central fire station and to the district fire stations and places where fire escapes were placed.

NEWCASTLE.-The members of the Newcastle Fire Brigade met with marked success at a recent series of com-

been connected with the Northwich brigade for eighty years, and the case has created a stir.

On Tuesday a proposal 'vas made that the resolution be rescinded, and that the superintendent of the brigade be allowed to appear before the authority in his own defence. This motion was carried by a small majority, and then the opponents of the resolution demanded that the inquiry be held in open council, in order that the public should be placed in full possession of the facts and the grave statements which had been made. This was strongly combated, and ![r. J. W. Deakin, J.P., who declared that fifty per cent. of the council's time was occupied in clealing with dispuLes among the executive, moved that the superintendent and every member of the brigade attend before the committee" in order that the gross irregularities in connection with the way in which tbe work of the brigade is carried out shall be inquired into." After debate, this was carried.

The cIYbury Volunteer Fire Brigade petitions promoted by the Tipton Brigade. There were competitions for one man, two men, and four men drill, and the Newcastle representatives won the first prize for each. The Walford Green Challenge cup for the best total at tIle three drills wassecured, with a gold medal for Capt. Bayley and medals for the men. Sergt. Pope also won a brass helmet, being the first prize for one man dress drill. In all, the men won eleven medals, in addition to that of the captain. Ai\IBULANCE-FIREl\1E WHO RECEIVED THEIR 'VAR

F.:WPORT. - The fire brigade demonstrated on July 30th

THE OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN, AUGUST 1 Ith, 1902. in the presence of the public, and their lifc-s:lving apparatus is equal to the task of reaching the highest buildings in the town. Captain H. had that some busybodies had been questlOnmg the abIilty of the brigade to rescue a person from the part of high buildings at the bottom of Stow-hlll, and about nll1e o'clock he had a practice turn-out, and working the telescopic escape to the turret at the top of the Birm ingham and District Bank premises, showed how a person could safely be brought down. The escape could have been carried up still further, to a total height of 70 ft., had the necessities cf the case demanded it.

NORTHWICIJ.-The Urban Council, on Tuesday, Aug. 5th , discussed for an hour and with considerable warmth, an alleged scandal which had arisen relative to the town fire briaade At the former council meeting it was decided that regard to the information which had been laid b before the committee the superintendent be called upon to send in his resignation The superintendent'S family bad

had a practical demonstration at Sydmonton Court on Wednesday, July 30th. At the request of Mrs. Kingsmill they took their stearn fire engine to the lake in the p::uk and pumped water to the house, a distance of over 4-00 yarJs, the fireman frolll the roof sending a strong jet of · water :tway into the park. This proved a useful drill to the brigade. and makes them acquainted with the situation should thcy be called to attend in the night. After giving a display at the Jake, the brigade made up their hose and proceedt!d to Sydmonton Farm, where they were

liberally entertained by 11r. AlLert Booth, and in the evening indulged in a few impromptu sports on the lawn. Mr. Bert Booth produced a team of stalwart farm men, who pulled over the brigade in a tug of war. The brigade proceeded home soon after eight.

THlRSK.-At a meeting of the Parish Council a letter of condolence was directed to be sent to 1Irs. Best, on the death of her husband, 1\1r. Geo. Best, who for many years had been chief officer in connection with the Fire Brigade. Ir. William Cartman was appointed his successor.

ACLE.-Dr. H. H. Back has been holding lectures in connection with the S.J.A.A. for the members of the Norfolk Constabulary in the Aclc division. •\t the examinatIOn the examiner congratulated the class, and all had a good examination and showed a great intelligence. Superintendent Lowe presented Dr. H. Hack, on of the men, with a silver-mounted wallong-stlck sUltably inscribed.

Thrilling Lessons.

By C L 1FT 0 N SPA R K S

From the Western Fireman.

LIFE saving as a science is now taught to Jew York's firemen as carefully as the use of the hose Every man who wears the badged cap of a fireman wears it because he is a trained and accomplished gymnast, able to climb anywhere, and equal to the task of rescuing a 200-pound f:om the top of Trinity steeple, if necessary He IS exerClsed and re-exercised until he can think for himself and act upon his o\\'n initiative in an emergency. He is taught to obey so completely and instantly that he is as prompt as the very hand of his superior officer. Trust in his chief is instilled into him until he will unquestioningly let go his hold and drop from wherever he may be if the order is given to him to do so. He is shown that his safety depends upon instant obedience to those who direct his movements from below, and is taught that death may be the penalty of hesitation. He learns to stand by his comrades and to follow his chief anywhere. Whatever he may have been when he entered the department, he becomes a gentleman in three months-or he gets out in a hurry. At the end of his first year's training he is an inconspicuolls unit in one of the best trained, best drilled and best built bodies of men in the world. He jumps to the word or command with a snap, his body has the controlled vigour and elasticity of a coiled spring, his head is clear and his eyes are true, and he has the look of a man who kno\vs his work and likes to do it.

Most of these things come as the result of contact with a human dynamo, who bears the name of Henry IV. McAdam and wears the title of chief of instruction For twenty years and a little over McAdam has been teaching ra"" green young men to climb ladders, to dangle on ropes, to jump from anywhere into anything, or to "skin up" the side of a six-story building and go over the overhanging edge of the roof on a contrivance that would scare a cat. N earl y everyone of the devices for saving life that are now in use in the various fire departments of the world are the result of Chief McAdam's experiments The life line, the present form of the firemen's belt, and a host of other contrivances, have been evolved by him. He plans out some new life-saving trick or other nearly every week. He has the confidence of ew York firemen as no other man has it, and he deserves it. In twenty years 39,000 firemen have passed through his hands, most of them having been put through a course of training that would make some men faint. In those twenty years not a man has been killed, and only two have been even hurt. One of these broke his ankle; the other, his leg. One man was hurt because a new rope broke; the other was injured because h e did not obey orders.

It is McAdam who makes these green firemen obey orders. It is he who puts heart and nerve into them. He makes them understand that their lives depend on prompt obedience to his orders, and in their early days of downright" scare)) they cling to that solid fact with remarkable unan,imity. Chief. has a way of saying things that IS coldly convl11cmg. He never bullies a man makes his pupils understand that their safety depends themselves, and that nothing unpleasant can haopen to them as long as they do what they are told. He is no believer in the nervous man. "The man who is nervous is the man who is afraid. Nervousness is fear," says Chief McAdam. Some men call him a "nerve" specialist.

A I D - August, 1902

" You can call it what you like," adds the instructor, "but nervousness is just plain fear. The man who says he is nervous is just afraid he is going to be burt or killed, that is what ails him."

New York's life-saving school-the school of instruction of the New York }ire Department, as it is called-is situated on Sixty-seventh-street, in the rear of the headquarters of the Fire Department. The class-room is the side of a six story building; the school yard is a big net, like that used to protect trapeze performers in a circus .

Opening for A merican Fire Apparatus in London.

LOemON's losses of life and property by fire, according to the latest advices direct from the British capital, have been out of all proportion of late to those of the Continental capitals. A special correspondent of the Boston I-£emld declares that it is worth travelling to London just for the fun of going to a fire!

"For," says he, "London's way of dealing with a blaze is a comedy-when it isn't a tragedy. If it were not so often a comedy, it would be less often a tragedy."

The correspondent writes a graphic description of a London fire engine, in action, as follows :-

" A nervous American's first experience with the London fire engine in action is bound to be memorable. Terrifying shouts come first out of the distance, growing louder until they are distinguishable as a shrill, ex c ited chorus of 'Hi, hi, hi, hi!' There is a commotion up the street, and it would appear that a riot is in progress and there is no escaping. With a chill sense of impending doom, the stranger shrinks back into a doorway and awaits the end with what courage he can muster.

" Presently, the oncoming riot dissolves itself illto two horses winding in and out among 'buses and butchers' carts, and dragging a squat iron box with a toy smokestack on it, and little wheels bulging out behind. In addition to the toy stack and little wheels it carries six or eight men in great glittering helmets in colours of silver and gold. The helmets are awe-inspiring, and the 'Hi! hi!' that cl)mes forth from underneath each helmet is nothing less than tremendous, quite out of keeping with the little camel engine and with the mild patience of tbe driver in pulling up until a passing cart can lumber out of bis way.

"That puffy little engine reminds one irresistibly of the tail end of the procession on 'Firemen's Day' at home, when after all the great shining steamers have rolled proudly by, the old' No I' of our fathers comes trundling along, re-calling to the patriarch of the exempts forgotten stories of valorous deeds in the seventies.

"Aside from its comic effect of peaceful harmlessness in comparison with the imposing gold and silver helmets and the blood-curdling 'Hi I hi!' I know nothing that should be said against the London fire engine except that its pumping capacity is less than half that of the American engine. It is, doubtless, a faithful and honest little machine; yet it seems, somehow, to epitomise the whole system to which it belongs-much glitter of brass, and lots of 'Hi! hi!' but antiquated efficacy when you get right down to business."

Referring to the recent fire in Queen Victoria-street, City, in which ten young women lost their lives, attention is called to the fact that the Department discovered that a ladder fifty feet long would not reach to a window sixty feet from the ground. The Fire House bad been within a stone's throw of the ill-fated building f()r twenty-five

It is expected that there will soon an opening for Ame r ican hook and ladder apparatus, chemicals, a u tomatic sprinkle rs and fire-nets.

Letters to the Editors.

"FIRST AID" WELCOME CLUB.

A ursing Sister, she the" wild but warm-hearted orth-West Dlstnct," wntes : - I do not know whether any other provincial sisters havewntlen to you for your kindly interest on our behalf the first pen.od the Coronation, but I feci I must wnte to thank you Y0ul kindness in securing rooms for. us the autbontles headquarters had signifie d theIr. to thIS task and your kindness 111 provlc\111g a place of rest m your c Club) also deserves our tbanks. the serious illness of our dearly loved 'your. kmC\ly intentions, that it was appreciated 111 thIS dlstnct IS eVidenced by tile fact that eyery one of .our members now AID. Other districts I hope WIll also their appreCiatIOn by inducing members to take the Journal.

THE AMBULANCE MEN A D THE CORO ATION PROCESSIO

DEAR SIRS,-I should be pleased if you could me -as one who was originally chosen to do duty on the loute·which corps or divisions took duty on August 9th I. see, according to a London daily, that there were about 6C? statIOns, which I suppose have been supplied by the metropolitan men. May I ask why the provincial corps ilave been entIrely - d? Perhaps it may be as well to pomt out that such an 19nore t a' d 1 all event as tile Coronation is a iValzona allal)" an as suc 1 £_ the different units of the S.J .A.D. be asked to tak.e pa.1 t t Maybe headquarters are reserv111g the procesSIOn for men from the pI:oyinces. 1\t rate, there WIll be no little amount of which wtll take some tIme to allay, if those who so readily and offered to pay their own expenses are entIrely Ignored later.-I am, Yours truly,

PROVII CIAL.

WIDOWS, ORPHA SAND FUND.

BENEVOLENT

SIRS -Will you allow me to n;ake an appeal through your columns behalf of the \Vidows, O!'phans and Benevolent Fund of tile ational Fire Bngade UnIOn? '.

Some feYI of the brigades ha\'e come forward and by. thell personal en erg y added considerably to the for the WIdows and orphans of their comrades who are left m need. I do not k the many brigades who have not already for subtions, but merely to find a .little time on day 111. the year to te the public the of subscniJmg, whlc.h they are g onl too pleased and wllhng to do The OppOl can be male for collecting by a Church P.arade) or any competItIOns ther functions that may be held 111 their town The reason or 0 enerally given me for not assisting is tl:at the has out on so many occasions to assist other chantable b' ts but surely our own benevolent fund should take the fi o Jec l' At Margate a sum of /,27 was collected at a rst pace. 1 d D" 1'Cl ch Parade and the South Mldlan lav111g 11U d tl at 'the proceeds of their annual meet1l1g for comannounce 1 I-b' t -ed etitions at Hampton would be gwen to t11S 0 Jec, secUl p £ 00 Let me beo- of every dlstnct to follow thIS over b.. U· l' I I I I T l ere is hardly a bngade 111 the nJOI1 w llC 1 COll C examp ollect rIO and many ten times that amount, if the not easl y c ;t;", fi tot and firemen would lend a hand Brother rem en, s ep. u make this benevolent fund what it should be-a credIt to you and the Union -Yours truly,

R. G. Chairman

of Governors of the National Fire Brigades UnIOn Widows, Orphans and Benevolent Fund. St. Albans, Hampton-on-Thames)

Ju ly 29th, 1902

TIlE ceRED CRossn DISCUSSION AT MANCHESTER

SIRS)-During the discussion on the use and abuse of. "Red Cross" at the Manchester meetmg of the Bntlsh Medical Association I stated that the troops under the command of Sir Redvers Buller made use of ambulance waggons for the conveyance of military stores, &c. This I .find .to be incorrect as Sir Redvers Buller had not then arnved 111 the country At the same time I was correct in saying that ambulance wagO'ons were used for the conveyance of military stores from to the front, and, further, that a C< bearer company" was armed and acted escort to a train.of milit<:try waggons carrying stores, ammumtlOn, &c., from Pletermantzburg to Fort Amiel.. _

The point of the diSCUSSIOn turned on the future misuse of ambulance waggons, and it was agreed that all ambulance waggons should be pam(ecl whIte and clearly marked with the" Red Cross " so that they could not be used by combatants for the transport of military stores, and further to protect them against the .fire of the enemy. At. waggons, military and medical, painted khakI, which, It was generally admitted at the meeting, was a great mlstakeYour obedient servant,

J. B. Surgeon-General, RP. Junior United Service Club, S.W

" FIRST-AID" FIRE-EXTL GUISHI:-..lG APPLlAKCES.

To tlte Editor oj " SIR,-- I have read article in your current issue and note that he speaks dlsparagl11gly of as co'mpared with extinctors. In justice to my firm, whIch invented the" London Brigade " hand-pump many ago, I should like to point out facts on the other Side of the question. I'

Tbe extinctor is a useful machine for prompt app IcatlUn if it is properly chargeuand ready.. I t is as far as its contents go; bitt, If the fire not by one charge, then serious delay occurs 111 rechargmg, and this time the fire may get ahead. The thE!,refOle, has its sphere of usefulness, to the sIze of fire whICh be put out with one charge. \Vlth band-pump a c.ontmuous stream can be kept up from startmg work, as the pall can be supplied with water from buckets as long as necessary by another person, or by a small hose from the nearest tap. I n a private house several buckets should be kept In the bathroom, and as soon as an alarm is given, the tap can be turned on and buckets replenished by dlppmg 111 the bath and carried to the band-pump has bee.n. got to work. As regards keeping in .order, cle::-nmg and _ ?Ji111 g the hand-pump a few times a year IS all that IS necessat). .

\Vith extinctors made of steel, as :'Ilr. .Rlvers <;lescnbes, corrosion would be a serious danger, and m practice extinctors have failed through corrosion of the. taps rotting of the h?se, or premature mlx111g of aCid and alkali by careless or mlschle\-OUS persons. _

\Vith the hand-pump the London .F put to "000 fires annually Without usmg lalger from 2,000 .), / erb sw'>. am Sir, yours fait hfully, apparatus 'F I\f "'R J. COMPTON ERRYWEATH" \Vhitehall Court, S \V., July 28tb, 1902

Volunteer Ambulance Sch ool Instru c tion. of

President: fajor Andrew Maclure, \'.D , late L.S.RV Office: 23, Cambridge Street, Hyde Park, \V ORDER:

The next class for the training of r.egil:nental stretcher bearers will commence in October. ApplicatIOn for;ns can be 1 f S - t H J Bussell r" Go\\'er-street) \\ .c., or of obta1!1ec 0 erg. . . .), . T \V Amb.-Sergt. C. Skillbeck, 6, Cariton-hlll, N. (By Order ) P.

B. GILES2 F.RC.S., I3l'1gadc Surgeon L.t.-Col.! Senior Mec\Jcal Officer.

From the American Press.

This year will be a record one for Tournamcnts in the L.:nitcd Statcs, as no less SIX are already announced.

illoRE TIL\C\' SOLDlERs.-There .are more firemen in the United States than there are soldlcrs 111 the In New 'York city al?ne there 6,100 fircrnen, including 1,200 Yolunteer FIremen. I here are 1,200 Jl1 Chicago; 800 in Philadelphia; 700 in Boston; 400 !n Baltimore; 500 in 13uffalo 48? 111 De!l'Olt Sao III St. Louis: 400 in Pitt sb urg; 430 ll1 an }ranclsco; 300 111 Orleans, and 2SO in \\'ashington.

There arc 65,000 paid fir emen in U 111 ted tates, and from 100,000 to 150,000 Yolunteer bremen.

S"O\\'P,,\LLED ,\ FTRE.-Several hunDred men and boys snowballed a (Ir e at GcorgetO\:'l1,. Pa., rpc e ntly, and managed to confine it to thl ee bulldll1g, although for a time the whole \'illage was threatened.

There is no \Yater service and no Fire Dcpartment 111 the to\\'nship, and there was nc to stoP. the flames until some one suggested snO\\'ballll1g, and a ram ?f snowballs was then hurled upon the burning houses, whIle other persons plastered adjoining houses with snow to pre\'ent them catching fire.

Munt Clare, 111., has the most remarkable Fire Department. Ncarly all of the men go to Chicago on business days, and the wiYes, mothers and who are left behind form the Flame Fighting BrIgade, i\ \\'oman is Fire and another is Fire Captain.

FmE E"'G1"ES.-The first town in England to effectively display the of the Engine for Fire Brigade purposes IS Eccles, LancashIre. The enO'inc was constructed by a local firm and bas proved a success It carries fiye men, 300 yards of bose, t\yO standpipes, scaling ladders, jumping-s heet and other necessary apparatus.

It is propelled by a six-borse power electric motor. It is remarkably silent in motion. and averages a speed of 14 to 16m iles per hour on the leyel. I t has also established its ability for climbing stiff gradients with facility.

The Berlin Fire Brigade has a Yery complete system of communication. From each of the fifteen stations underground wires radiate in all directions, each wire being connected with a great number of alarm pillars. Besides the automatic alarm and a telegraph key, each post is prO\ ided with a plug and socket for a telephone, The Brigade is pro\'ided with about eighty special portable telephones, and when Ohe of these is placed on a post ncar the (He, messages may be sent without interfering with the usual alarm signals.

F OR S LE -F irst Ambulance Officer's Uniform, S J.A.B., consisting of Forage Cap and cover, Fatigue Cap, Patrol Jacket, Fatigue Jacket, Trousers, Cross-belt and pouch, Great-coat and Cape; Fit height 5 ft. I I} in., che t in.; good condition; apprO\"al on deposit. IIancock, 57, Davenport-street, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent.

GARROULD'S FOR ,\L1, KINDS OF NURSES' UNIFORMS, CAPS, COWNS, BONNETS, &c.

AS SUPPLmn TO

The Principal Hospitals and Nu r s in g In st itu t ion s and H. M War Office.

PATTERNS

enl frep of the W ashing Cot ton Materia ls as used in the London and Pro vincial Hospitals includin.r{ REGATTA CLOTH, CLIO HOSPlTAL CLOTH, MELVlLLE CLOTH, HECTOR DRILL , HAll FA X DRILL , MlLO GINGHAM. Estimates give n for all kinds oi Sites, Ticks, Sileetings, Flannels, Calicoes, &c.

lJ"rit.: ./or tl,,· ,You Editioll 0./ Garrould's Red Cross Nurses' Catalogue (Regel.). /I'il;' 3"0 {tllls/ratiolls. post 'n·t'.

E. & R. Carrould,

150, 152, 154, 156, 158 160, Edawara Rd., Hyde Park, LONDON, W. TelepltoJle, 317 J'a /dillg/oll.

Tc!tJ;ralJls: " (,'a rrolf 1£1, j,olldoJl "

COUPON TICKET

SPECIALLY GUARA:<TF.F:1l BY

The Ocean ACcldent and Guarantee CorporatioD,

LIMITED , 40 , 42, & 44, MOORGATE LONDON, E.C, (to \\'hom Totice of Claims, under the following conditions must be sent within sc\'cn days of accident to the abo\'c address.)

600093 £100

will he paid bv the abo\'e Corporation to the legal 0, anyone I\"ho is killed hy an accident to fraln (1\ Ith111 the United Kingdom or Channel Islands), 111 whIch the cleceased was a ticket hearing or paying passengcr, or have been fatally injured thereby (should death result \\'lth1l1 nll1cty (lays aftcr such accident).

PRO\TIDED that the person so killed or 1I1Jured had upon hIS or her person or had lcft at homc this ticket, with his, her, usual signaturc, written prior to the accident, on the. space pro\"Ided helo.ll, \\ hich, togcthcr \Iith thc givmg or notIce wlthm thc tllne as herem, before mentioned is the essencc of this contract.

This insuran;e holds 0'00c1 for current issue only, and carries the lJenefits of and is to, the conditions or the "OCE,\. T ACCIDE T AND CO;\ll'AN\', Limited, ,\.ct, r890," Risks Kos. 2 and 3.

The Corporation admit that the purchase of this Papcr is the payment of a premium under Section 34 of the Act.

Ko person can recover uncler morc than onc Coupon tld:et 111 respcct of the same

S7.EJ"alllre

FIRST AID.

The Independent Journal for the Ambulance and Fire Services.

IMPORTANT NOTICE. - The date of publication of "First Aid" is the 20th of the month.

To Our Readers.

As it is the earnest wish and desire of the new Proprietors to make this J ournal as attractive and entcrtaining as possible, correspondents in all parts of the country are asked to give it all the help they can. Superintendents of Corps and Officers of Divisions of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, Officers of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps, the Volunteer Ambulance School of Instruction, and Chief Officers of Fire Brigades will, it is hoped, do their best to make it known among t the members of their respecti\'e organisations, and will also send for publication their official news and notice. Suggestions are ill\'ited for Prize Competitions and other matters which will advance the interest of the Journal.

vVe particularly to ask our correspondents to be brief and to the point in any communications they may send us for publication.

,Ve are plea ed to record the fact that we are already recei\'ing a great acce sion of support from all parts of the country, and as our space is somewhat limited, in dealing with reports of local meetings for presentation of certificates, &c., it would be better that a brief report wcre writtcn, giving a short resume of the \'arious points touched upon by the principal speakers, rather than that a lengthy newspaper report should be sent giving in detail the whole record of the mecting. Thi report is doubtless interesting to local First ,a ider but it must be borne in mind that we are catering for the Ambulance and Fire Brigade world at large.

TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.

For 12 months, IS. 6d., post free, to be sent to the Publishers, ?\Iessrs. Dale, Reynolds and Co., 46, Cannon,street, London, E. C. Teleo"7aplzic _...Jddress-" TweJl/YJo1l1", London " Teleplzone ./',TO.-'477 Balli,..

Brevities.

accidents in the field of industry to the accidents of battle was a move only in degree, and the Birmingham Corps, in common with other wearers of the badge of St. John, rendered splendid service in relieving the sufferings of the wounded and the sick. Two thousand men in all 'vent out, to face danger, hardship, possible death, in a noble attempt to succour their fallen comrades.

* * *

THE TVar ehouseman and Draper 'Jays :-" The recent unfortunate fires in Barbican and Queen Victoria-street have given rise to much unfounded and ill-advised criticism of the London Fire Brigade, its methods, and equipment. They do these things better in the States,' we are told, and the tIan in the Street suggests we should ask the Americans to show us how fires should be extinguished.

\\'e have our own views on the subject, but they are not exactly those to which we are referring, and we noticed a few days ago a letter in the Tt'mes which contains some questions that we should like to see answered, The writer says:

, The test of the efficiency of the various fire brigades is the percentage of premium paid to the insurance companies.

\I ill the critics of the London brigade and those who exalt the American brigades to the skies kindly explain how it is that for risks of similar construction the rate of premium in the large towns of America is nearly three times as as that of London? Also ,yill they explain how it is that with their chemical engines, their water towers, their notions of all sorts, two fires have occurred within the last three ,reeks involving as great or greater loss of life in large towns of .;, merica than any fire in Londor. during the last year, including the fire in Queen Victoria-street?' "

4 0

.\:\l BULANCE Field Caps, most unused, rest used about three times. \\'11at offt;rs? AlloH, Branchwelci, 13:ltler.

Printcd and Puhlished hy :'Ifessrs J) \LE, /\;\ Jl 46, Cannon

TH E Bt'r71u'?lglw7lt Gazette says :-11r. Chamberlain appeared in a new role on Saturday in his eulcgy of the Ambulance Brigade. It has been his lot to defend the war in many of its aspects, but it "as certainly a fresh experience for the Colonial Secretary to expatiate on what might be termed the civilian, at any rate the humanitarian, aspect of the campaign. The "voluntary patriotism of a free people" which supplemented "the necessary deficiencies in the regular service" was n eve r more strikingly manifested than by th e S.J.A.B , which sent forth a body of men who rendered splendid service in the field It is to be feared that even the general work of the brigade is not sufficiently recognised yet who can say how many lives are annually saved, how many otherwise serious accidents are kept within moderate bo und s, by the q uiet ministra ti ons of those capab le of rendering first aid t o the injured? From the

A CONSTAi\"T reader writing to the Clapham Obse?ver says :-" ;,1ay I through the medium of your widely read and largely circulated paper, call the attention of the ratepayers and others in the neighbourhood of Balham and Upper Tooting to the inadequate provisicn at pre ent existing, in the matter of an ambulance station, to meet any serious accidents that might occur? uppose, for in tance, a man gets seriously injured near the Empire usic Hall, he has to lay there, perhaps in the greatest of pain, whilst an am bulance is being fetched from the nearest police station-to ,vjt, Ca"endish-road-a good 20 minutes' journ ey, i \ gain, in the case of the tramway accident on Tuesday last, the ambulance station was Trinityroad Police Station. urel), in the name of common humanity, better provision should be made, and what better site than that of 11r. Edward's nursery at Balham Station, which I notic e is being pulled down? Here one could be

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kept handy [or both railway and st reet accidents. I noticed some time ago one of your correspondents suggested ju st such another station at Tooting Broadway, but still it has not arrived. I trust something will soon be done t.o set things a little more in order than at present e)'ists." Th is is the constan t story that is bei ng told and re-told allover London, bUl the authorities a re so full of housing problems, «c , that they have no time or inclin:ttion to give to this well-worn subject.

***

DR NACHTEL writing to the Mail on July 3 rd says:-" To-day, at half-past two, I witnessed another instance of Lond on's shortcomings in ambulances. A horse attached to a hansom coming from the Haymarket bolted and ran into a waiting cab at th e corner of Cockspur-street and Pall Mall. The gentleman in the carriage-Lieut.-Col. Edwardes-had a yery narrow escape, but the driver was not so fortunate. He was thrown from his box and was very badly shaken I examined him superficially, and so far as I could see he might have sustained some internal injury. At th e end of half-ar.-ho ur a policeman, actuated by the best intentions but severely handicapped by th e bck of system, put him into a cab and drove to thc nearest hospital. Surely such a cr ue l method of transit ought not to be permitted in the larg es t city of the world. It wo ul d be permitted in few others, since most ha\'e proper hmbulance systems " Why do es London wait? It is admitteci on all sides that London is one of the \vorst ambulanced cities in the world, and yet the governing a uthorities allow the reproach to continue, and it is one that is being continually referred to by our for e ign critics, who may be resident amongst us, for disinterested motives. *

ORDERS will shortly be issued regarding the organisation of the In dian Ambulance Bearer Co rp s, 6,000 strong, mentioned by the Military Member, in his Budget speech. Medical officers will be appointed in each command to carry out this organisation, which will involve an initial charge of Rs 74,000, and an annual charge of Rs. 375,4° 0 . The step is rendered necessary by the difficulty of obtaining dhooly bearers of th::: right physique and c lass

SURGEON-Major G. A. Hutton says :- " In no a rm y can the medical department be made equal to the exigencies o f a great war without supp lementary aid from voluntary societies, and no such societies can properly fulfIl that duty without pr epa ration and organisation in time of peace " Surgeon-Major Hutton is no arm-chair critic, or th eo rising visionary, but is ab l e as an o ld Cr im ean, to speak of h is own expe ri e n ce in th e field, and as Organising Commissioner of the S.J.A.A., to speak with authority concern in g what is needed for the Army, and what, during the war, was done by the S.J.A. B. Surgeon-Major Hutton pays a warm tribute to the zealous and unselfIsh work performed by its members at the front.

A COl\1l\llTTEE of Russian e lec tri cal e n gi n ee rs h ave

AI D.- Septem ber, 19°2.

recommended the fo ll ow in g r eg ulations to the Government :-Every power-s tation to have a special life -sa ving c h amber for tr eating persons s uffering from e lectr ic shock, and t o provide means o f avo idtn g shocks- for example, rubb e r gloves and shoes, which a re to be tested every six months by a current three times more powerful than those ord in ar il y u sed at th e station_ Instructions are to be posted up in the s tat ion so that workmen know what to do in case of accident. If the accide nt occurs away fr om the station dry co rd age or clothing can be thr own over the "live" wire to insulate it. Very dry wool is also effect ive as an insulator.

* * *

BOTH at home and on the Continent the holiday season has already been responsible for an unusual loss of life, due in the one case to accidents while bathing, and in the other to th e inevitable risks of mountain climbing

Already this year over sixty deaths have tak e n place in the mountains, which means that the average of fatalities for twelve months has been reached at thi s early date. In regard t o bathing and boating fataliti es, thirty lives have been lost in eight days. We suppose nothing can be done to check the increase of fatal accidents to hill climbers, but much might be done to prevent bathing fatalities, if only a greater number of peopl e wOl!ld take the trouble t o go through a course of life-saving drill. It is gratifying to hear that the Bristol corps of th e S. J.A.B. is giving attention to this important s ubj ec t. It is hoped that other corps and divisions will follow suit.

Railway Ambulance.

NORTH EASTERN RAILWAY CENTRE.-Mr. Harrison Holt, J.P. , of Highfield, Driffield, placed his pretty grounds at the disposal of the Hull Dlstnct for a cO .mp etition of the above centre on August 30th, when prizes tu the value of £ 10 were competed for. Admission to the grounds was free on the production of railway tickets. A very successful demonstration of a similar character was h eld at HighfI e ld last summer.

At the invitation of Sir David and Lady Dale, th e members of the Darlington District, on Saturday afternoon, August 23rd, gave demonstrations of Ambulan ce work in the g r ounds of West Lodge, Darlington. There was a large attendance of trained am bu lan ce workers from the different districts. The visitors were accommodated with seats placed on' the lawn, and includ ed, bes id es Sir David and Lady Dale and local medical gentlemen several secretaries of the Ambulance on the NorthEastern system, and, amongst others, Mr. George Jackson, the gene ral secretary, from York; Mr. J. S Tinkler, Thornaby; Me!:>srs. Parkes and Oddy, Harrogate, and Mr. Hollands, ewcastle The men were afterwards entertain ed to tea on th e lawn.

We have r ecently had an opportunity of inspecting some novel and compact medical chests and cases put up by the firm of Park e, Davis and Co . ( I I I, Vlctona-street, E . C) . For portability, clever pack111g 111 the .sm a ll est o f space, a nd good finish these cases lea ve noth 1I1g to be desired. Doctors and am bu lance officers sho uld ce rt ainly obtain an illustrated catalogue of thi s firm.

S epte m ber, 19°2. -FIRST

Our Portrait Gallery.

SUPERI TTENDENT A. R. TOZER, CHIEF OFFICER OF TITE BIR:\lINGHAM FIRE BR IGADE, AND SUPEH.INTENDENT OF STORES OF THE BIIUIINGHAM COIU'S, S. ) .A.B.

THERE are but few "Fire Chiefs)) more ,,\'idely known than th e gentl eman whos e portrait it is our pleasure to present to our readers this month.

Supt. Toz e r, who claims L ondo n as his birthplace, may be said to have been born in the Fire Service,

AI D.35

Tozer was, from first, ?ne .of its most ardent supporters, and he has eyer sll1ce mamtamed an actiYe interest in the :-v ork As eVidence of this we may mention that he is the mventor of very excellen t ar,nbulance litter, a large numb er of which are. placed at dIfferent points in the City use m case of aCCldent or sudden illness. Supt. Tozer IS an II onorary Serving Brother of the Order of St. John, and we may say no one more fully deserve this honour, and no one. IS m?re worthy to wear its insignia, although, for mexpltcable r eason, it has never been presented to hIm.

. In 1891, Supt. Tozer was a for the post of Chief Officer of the Fire Briaade then vacant by the res!gnation of Sir Eyre 11assey Sha,,:. He was of .the nme selected candidates to appear before Fire Bngade but, as is well known, the appomtment .was given to l\1r J. Sexton Symonds, the Committee feelll1g that as Second Officer he had some claim to the position.

As showing the keen int erest he takes in the men who se rv e him, it is not eworthy that he mainly inaugll:ated th e penSIon scheme for their benefIt, to the details of which he devoted a great deal of his little leisure.

By the Corporation he so ably serves he is held in the hlg hest esteem, as was evidenced recently when, on the resignatIOn of the Second Officer of the Briaade the Council unanimously appointed his son, },Ir. Alfl?ed Tozer jun., to the vacant post.

From this brief sketch our readers will realise that in th e town of h!s adoption 1\1r. Tozer's popularity is a wellknown 111 the success of the brigade he so ably controls; the CItizens know and appreciate his skill as a fireman and entertai? for him the fullest esteem and respect as courteous, kll1dly gentleman. 11ay he for 111any years possess health and strength to carry out the llnportant duties of his office.

Across the Veldt in an Ambulance Waggon.

inasmu c h as he was born at the \\'atlin g-street Fire Station, City, where his father wa s an enginee r, and one of the late Jam es Braidwood's most tru sted officers; th e date of his birth bei.ng .December 22nd, [ 853. From these opening r e marks It Will be at once apparent that Mr. Tozer comes of a fire -fighting stock, ind eed it is stated that for nearly a century the Tozer family llave been connected with the profess ional fire service of thi s coun try.

Aft e r l eaving school, the subject of our sketch was placed for a short period with a ftrm of hydraulic engineers a l Manch es t er, subsequently se rvin g an apprenticeship with a L ondon firm of Fire Engineers At th e age of tw entyth ree he secured th e appointment of Superintendent of th e Bristol Fire Brigade. This was in 1376, and three years later he applied fo r, and was successful in obtain in g, the appointment of Chief Offic er of th e Birmingham City l "i re Brigade.

Since th e advent of Mr. To ze r's appearance in the metrop o lis of th e Midlands, the City }'ire Brigade has undergone great changes, a nd tIl e vast improvements that have been mad e in connection ,x,'ith it speak volumes for his power of organisation and mastery of detail; indeed, it may truthfully be said that n o city is more thoroughly or effic iently supplied with appliances and persollllel to cope with tb e ravages of fire.

In co nn ectio n with the ambulance movement, Supt.

THE sky was clear, but the atmospheric conditions were not such as would induce one to Q\'erlook the fact that, e\'en in sunny South .\erica, a greatcoat is not altogether indespensi bl e

"Right turn to duties, quick march," this from the Staff. Corporal: (( Yes, Staff." "You can go to Helpl11a Karr in the ambulance to-day. Be ready to start in half.anhour; take two days rations, and report to me on your return "

,. Right, Staff " The sun was slowly rising oyer Talan a II ill when I entered the waggon, and the two Kaffirs, who were relegated to the duties of driYers, gu\'e one the impression that a few hours more between the blankets would have proved beneficial to them.

"Right on." W e were off Shortly "'e entered the town of Dund ee, and in an amazingly short space of time we left it far behind. " Crack I" <C \\'hat the --hello you th ere, this is not a fishing expedition." Swish went the article I had mistaken for a fishing-rod, and which I latterly discovered was a whip, and bUl11p, bump, bump went the waggon em'e loped in c loud s of dust.

" Hold on, you Black ._-."

((Yah, Bass?"

(( Bass, be hanged, I wish I had some." Up, up, "'e go. The glorious privilege of accompanying a Briti h Am bulance-waggon is felt-not heard Now we were on

ASK YOUR NEWSAGENT TO SUPPLY "FIRST AID " RVERY MONTH.

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the veldt. On, on we go-across spruits, over dongas, until one felt inclined to cUlse the formation of Britain's latest possession. TO\\' we haye reached the Biggarsberg. no you admire scenery? Then don t cross the Biggarsberg. To explain It's a beautiful arrangement for inducing you to break all the Commandments that were e\'er written on stone or any other material But if you haye btt)' degeneration of the heart, or a liyer that has become too large to accommodate itself to its surroundings, then cross the Biggarsberg and die. You can have a whole cemetery all to yourself, and your (spook" can wander around all night, picking up relics of the Great Boer 'War without fear of mclestation [rom departed Burghers, You won't be commandeered now. No one will cren ask you to join the c.r.V.'s !

" Hello! hello!" " What's up now Boers? No it's a blockhouse man.

" Hello, comrade " 'here are you off to ? "

(C Helpma Karr Claim "

"Come along and haye some coffee!"

I came along, and I entered a Boer farm house now converted into a blockhouse. It's a wonderful and mysterious arrangement but, best of all, it is occupied by the Empire's sons-and the best of them too I had my coffee in company with half-a-dozen bronzed-faced bearded warriors. Another start, and mile after mile is left behind. .\.fter many ejaculations, which my modesty preyents' me from recording, \\'e arri\'ed at Helpma Karr. Out come the 1'\0. 1 Block house men.

"Come along, comrade, and ha\'e your dinner," th ey all shouted in chorus.

t( Right you are one moment, till I see the C.O." :'ly business with the Commanding Officer finished, I made my way to the blockhouse. There I found a royal feast awaiting me, Xo bully-beef and biscuits this time Somebody had commandeered-well, something else. The door flies open, and, like a hurricane, in comes the gunner of the Royal _\.rtillery

(C _\. man from Scotland here, where is he?" " Here, comrade, a Son of the Rock." (( Let s shake you fist-and come awa man and hae a crack .,

".One minute, old fellow, I am specially engaged attendlllg to the inner man, and the beggar \\'on't wait." I had finished, and my fellow-countryman and I (( tore the tartan," seated on a rock which was more wonderful than beautiful. ight was fast closing in, and we returned to the blockhouse.

" Come long, Bob, give us a song."

t( Faith, and I will," and had you been anywhere near the borders of Zululand, you would, doubtless have been surprised to hear floating across the W esbach' Yalley the thrilling strain of" cots "-ha Ha e." You haye only to be on the Yeldt, thousands of miles from home to duh appreciate tbe songs of your natiYe country.

"Lights out." I slept all night on a stretcher wbich, If It could speak, has many a talc to tell. "\.t 6 o'clock the next morning we inspanned and started on our return journey. But that is another story.

* -:f. * *

The lessons taught during the late war in South Africa are not being forgotten, as witness the effoHs cein u made by tbe \.uthoriti es to impro\'e upon the of Ambulance\yaggons used in the Army r.1 edical SerY1Ce,

The derects of Ambulance-waggons have been painfully demonstrated on yeldt during the past thr ee years. Those used were 111 themselves a great improvement

A

I D.- September, 1902.

on those formerly employed, which were almost springless, lumb ering vehicles.

During the past we ek a number of experimental Ambulance-waggons, nine different patterns in all, have been sent to Aldershot to be tested and reported upon by the Royal Army 1edical Corps, and an inspection of these has brought conviction to the mind that by their aid the sufferings of the wounded can be minimised to a very great extent.

The \'3.st improyemeuts make one wonder how it ha come to pas that they had not been introduced before! In only one particular do these nine experimental vehicles }'(:sem ble each other. All are fitted with thick rubber tyres, which ensure tbe deadening of much of th e vibration caused by the iron tyr es in ordinary use The fitting of the Ambulance-waggons is most ingenious. In ome the stretchers are suspended from the roof, three being slung, one below tbe other, on either side The mode of s\\'inging , 'aries, but powerful springs are introduced to keep the stretchers steady,

In others th e stretchers are placed on rack hooks, which can moved up or down by means of wire-rope, to accommodate one, two or three cases,

One pattern is shaped like an omnibus, with polished wood sides, and an opening back and front, the interior being roomy and arranged to take stretchers or sitting down patients along the sides.

Other types haye open sides, which can be closed or screened by stout canvass curtains, ensuring the maximum of ventilation.

All the vehicles are splendidly designed and built, the wood\,-ork being yarnished and the metal and brass work polished. Water-tanks are prm'ided on most of them, and powerful brakes also provided, The trace-books on the cross trees of the fore-carriages are attached to sprinas of considerable strength, ensuring the vehicles being without that nerve-shattering jerk, the bane of the wounded. Indeed, the ,'arious types have advantages peculiarly ther own, and will need the best and varied experiments to decide which will be eventually adopted.

St. Andrew 's

Ambulance Association.

CE)l"TRE.-A meeting of the Challenge Cup CommIttee was recently held in the office of Messrs, and Logan, solicitors, when it was arranged that th e competition be held on Thursday, 2+th January next. The regulations of competition of last year were adopted \vith the exception that corps may now be represented by any number of tea,ms, each team to consist of fi,'e men.

CLYDED,\);K.--This ambulance corps held their first meeting on .August 21St. Dr. Butchart said the little tation which had been erected, and would soon be opened, had been equipped, as well as they could with the funds at their disposal, with stretchers and dressing material, and would stand as a memorial of the energy of the members of the corps , A central and well-built station with an ambulance waggon was urgently required.

WE. T HARTLEPOOL.-On 110nday evening, Aug. 25th

M1'. R. r.I. Staincliffe, secretary of the ,V est Hartlepool Centre, was presented by the police-constables who had attended the classes during the early part of the year with a liqueur stand, suitably inscribed , The presentation was made by Supt. Waller.

September, 1902. --F I RST St. John Ambulance Association.

On Thursday, September 4th, the members of the First Aid Class, arranged by the West London Section of the St. John's Gate, 0 1 Division, met in the ),lission Room, Church-place, Harrow-road, 'V., to receive their certificates In the absence of the Chief Superintendent of the 11etropolitan Corps, 1\1r. W. D. Liddell, Supt. of the Division, presided. In a short and able speech he expressed the pleasure it gave him to be present and to learn from the Secretary ( ergt. Stone) that the clast; had been a great success, all except one facing the Examiner, and all being successful in earning a Certificate. the Certificates had been giYen, a presentation of a silver cigarette case was made to Capt.-Surg. Beattie, the lecturer.

HEywooD,-On Saturday, September 6th, a social party in connection with this Division \"as held in the Trades' Hall. At a short meeting the (Councillor Thos. Popple, J.P.) presented forty-five First Aid Certiflcates to successful students, and eighteen 1\ ursing Certi ficates to the 111 em bers of the Heywood Division, and also made presentations to th e Doctors and to the Officials of the Brigade for their seryices to tl1e classes. Councillor Coupe, J.P., presided, There were also present Dr. Jeffrey, Dr. Geddes, Dr. Butterworth, Supt. Hardman, .First Officer and Corporal Diggle (hon. sec,)

The Mayor, in the course of his remarks, referred to the good work done by mem bers of the Brigade both at home and abroad, and e.:-.:pressed the hope that future mayors would haye the pleasure of distributing as many Certificates to successful candidates as he had distributed during his mayoralty, After distributing the Certificates the :'l ayor made a series of presentations. On behalf of the members of the Ladies' First Aid Class he presented Dr. Geddes with an inkstand, paper-rack and fountg,in-pen, for his kindness and persC'verance in the work. :'liss Pearson and 1\1iss worth, of the Rochdale Corps, ,\,ere given gold brooches for the assistance they had giyen to tbe Doctor. He next presented Dr. Jeffery ,,,ith a silyer-mounted crocodile skin cigarette case, and upt. Hardman with a gold breJtst-pin from the mem bers of the First .Aid Class; Dr. Butterworth with a sih'er cigarette case from the )\ursin g Class; and Corporal Diggle witb an inkstand from the Ladies' First" \.id CIa s. Dr. Glddes mm'ed a ,'ote of thanks to the :'la)'o1'. Supt. Hardman seconded this motion , The Mayor moyed a yote of thanks to the Chairman for presiding; this \\'US seconded by Dr. Jeffery. The resolutions were briefly acknowledged and the formal proceedings terminated. Dancing was indulged in during the eyening .

THORNTo=".-The Halt/ax Gltard/all is responsible for the following:- The successful students will receiye elementary" first-aid" certificates, signed by r.lr. CErton Scott (gold medallionist, S.J.AA), and 1\1r. \'lph eus 11itchell (head tear:her, Thornton Evening School. .A correspondent who forwarded these particulars asks whether there is such a grade in am bulance work a. Gold .J.lfeda/lio)list. Yes, we belie\'e there you purchase the gold medallion, as a rule, yourself, and if you are so inclined, swagger about as a superior sort of ambulance person. If you do not care to run to the cost of gold you are content with a bronze medallion, and after all \\'e believe this is the real certificate of the :\.ssociation.

Presentation of South War Medals.

37 African

CORPs,-Some forty members of the Blfmmgham City Division of the .J.A.B. had the honour on aturday, Aug, 30th, of being presented with their outh War :'ledals. The men were spoken of in very complimentary terms by those in charge of the Hospitals. Some of the men went back to Soutb Africa and are rnembers of the Rhodesian Police Force and :'lajor-General Police,. and others are following priYate occupatlOns also out m our new Colonies. It proved a great pleasure to the men \\'ho were at home to receiyc their medals from the hands of :'lrs. Chamberlain.

Only one pathetic incident marred a very pleasing ceremony, The name of Pearce-the member who died through disease contracted while helping others-was called, and his aged mother walked up to :'lrs. Chamberlain to take the medal, and, unable to further restrain her pent-up feelings, burst into tears. :'Irs. Chamberlain endea\'oured to comfort her by a kindly grasp of the hand and a few words of sympathy.

The members of the Corps assembled at Queen's College shortly after 2 p.m" and half-an-hour later marched to Highbury, headed by the Hockley Band. Amongst the company seated or standing on the lawn near the entrance to the hou'e \\'ere Brigade-Surgeon Lieut.-Colonel Elliston, Deputy-Commissioner in charge of the District, .-'1.ssistant-Commissioner T. H, "·oolston, Chief- urgeon ,Yo E. Surgeon-Captain Brooks, Chief- upt. F. Gilbert, Supt.-Secretary J. R. Stamp and others.

Brigade- urgeon Lieut.-Colonel Elliston introduced the men to the Right-Hon, Joseph and :'lrs. Chamberlain, and spoke of the large number of men who during the late outh African ,Yar volunteered for _\.mbulance work in South Africa. The ',J .• \.,B. supplied o\'er 2,000 duly trained men for service at the front, and of this number sixty-seven died while on active duty.

:'1r. Chamberlain afterwards addressed the men. He said :-Colonel Elliston, K on-Commissioned Officers and men of the Ambulance Brigade, my wife \\'ishes me-in the first place-to say ho\\' much pleasure she has in performl11g her part in this very interesting ceremony, I can tell you that :'lrs. Chamberlain took it as a high comoliment which you paid to her and that now she is heartily glad to make your acquaintance, and that she congratulates you upon your return home and upon the great sen'ice that you have done for your country. You are members of that great and Charitable Order- 1. John of Jerusalem-and you ha\'e been called upon fulfil a yery notable e"perience. There can be no meetmg of a great crowd in which occasions for do not arise, and not only in crowds but at all .tlmes and .at any moment e\'ery member of the commu!1lty may be m, need of your a sistance. I myself had som.e expenence and, I can as ure you that a few weeks ago It would have been a areat satisfaction to me to have found anyone of you to me to give me the aid \yhich you are so \\ell qualified to afford. You men of the ,J "'ere I:Ot asked to give military sen,ice. But the ervlce to ",hlch you \\'ere called is, at least, as a any other. It is true you were not, perhap-, fig htl11 6 the enemy hand to hand or with ordinary \\'eaporL, but you were relieying the sufferings of tho e \\1:0 did fight, and !'ou were yourselves combating th ose diseases-those terrible

diseases which are the necessary concomitant of all warfare-and which have proved in this late campaign as in so many others to be more deadly than the s word and the bullet. I understand that something like two thousand men-morc than tll'O thousand men-from this organisation d St. John went to the front to give this assistance, and throughoqt the heat and the strife they were carrying on the pure work of humanity, and were giying their assistance indiscriminately and impartially to friends and to foes alike. In doing that you must have known that you had to run great risks, and you have bad to regret the loss of some of your comrades who hal'e fallen, in fact, upon the field of battle II i th as 111 uch honour as any of the men who have been killed by the bullets of the enemy in the late war. You had to endure great hardship!3, and I gather from the Official Despatches that nothing could exceed the cheerfulness, the patience, the endurance, and the resolution with which these hardships and sufferings were met. l OW your sen'ices are recognised in the medals which Mrs. Cham berlain has giyen you, and \\'hich will be to you during your lives - and, I hope, to your descendants after you - a pleasant and an honourable memento of the part you hal"e taken in this great campaign, and the share you have had with so mallY of your countrymen in securing an established peace in South jUri ca Jo w, gentlemen, you are returning to your civil occupations - to your usual work. I can only say that for the great Organisation to whIch. you belong-and for you individually-I offer my best Wishes, and I trust that both in your corporate and in ) our separate. capacity you max have every happiness and eyery prosperIty 111 your future lIves

Mr. J. Courtenay Lord proposed a vote of thanks to 11r. and Mrs. Cham berlain.

Councillor. Lanca.ster seconded the proposal. The moLIon was carned amId loud applause.

1\1r. Chamberlain briefly replied on behalf of himself and 1\1rs. Chamberlain The right hon. gentleman invited the company to take tea, and also asked them afterwards to look round the grounds and see "what we have to show," adding, "I am sorry to say that the ,veather has not left "ery much "

Before the party entered the conservatories where tea was served, at the suggestion of the Colonial Secretary three hearty cheers were gIven for bis 1ajesty King Edward Yll.

St. John Ambulance Brigade.

METROPOLITAN CORPS.

LE\.TON AXil Ll£YTONSTONE D 'I J T OIl IVISION.-. \ r. ey, son of. S.upt. Olley, bas been appointed 3rd officer to the above dlVlslOn. His appointment dating from l\1ay 20th, ] 902.

The annual outing of this division took place on Saturday, .i\ug 30th. Three three-horse brakes left headquu,rters, "Acorn 'Villa, " Fairlop-road, SOOI1. after 2 p m. for l:all1aull Retreat, Lambourne End. The party comprised Supt. J. J. Olley andilIrs. Olley, 1st officer A. F Paddon 2nd ,officcr W. R. l agnus. and Irs. Magnus, 3rd office; J. 1. Olley, and otbers, 111 all numbering 67. After a pleasant drive the party reached Lambourne End about " 1 b' 4·,,0 p.m., WLlen a su stanLJal tea was provided by l\Ir. Groves the proprIetor.

After tea Supl. Olley made a short speech in whicb he alluded the sJ.LIsfacto l:ary progress of the division, 4 6 of whom dId duty at Buckll1gbam Palace and Constitution-hill

A I D.- eptember, 1902

on the 9th A ugust last on the occasion of the Coronation of His lost Gracious Majesty King Edward V II ., fourtee n of the number doing night duty at Hote l Cecil, Strand. The Superintendent also referred to the honorary members who no\\' num ber 3:+ and whose subscriptions during the year had greatly assIsted the cause

Two fresh names were proposed, those of Dr. \ Varwick and Mrs \ Varwick, of 3I, rew Fillebrook-road The toast of the Honorary Members ha"ing been proposed, E. Reynolds, of lIford, one of the first to be enrolled as honorary member, respondeu.

Tea being over an aujournment was made to the cricket field, where a clown (costume) cricket match was played by members of the division The rest of the evening was passed ;-ery pleasantly, and the homeward journey began about 8 p m., the party safely arriving at Ley tons tone about 10p m.

PROVI "CIAL CORPS

BLACKPOOL - The report of the Ambulance and Nursing Divisions, shows a record of useful work well done Both Divisions seem to be well pro\"ided with all the appliances and means to boot for their noble work and have used them Iyell. The Blackpool Nursll1g DlVlSlOl1 has an effective strength of fifty-eight members,. and the number of cases attended-some fortyto the fact that the work is of a thoroughly practIcal and useful character. Dut the ladies ot the Division ha\'e done something more. They made the street collection for the Hospital last year in the month of Aug':lst, and realised ,£170 9s. 2d. In January they prOVIded and dlstn buted to poor children ot the town, to the 0f four hundred and eighty-five, 1,176 articles of clothll1g. They 110pe to'make a similar distribution during the coming winter, and we fear it will be needed.

We are told that the members as a whole attend practices regularly, and are enthusiastic in their work. Such a certainly.deserves public appreciation and sympathy.

1 he work done IS at the most useful and practical character, and reflects the greatest credit upon all concerned.

BRlSTOL.-A swimming competition for two silyer presented to the swimming section of the brigade by Supt. Dr. Charles Hayman, took place at the Broad \ Veir Baths, Bristol, on August 23rd. There were present the Deputy-Commissioner (Dr. \Y. Vernon), Dr. C. .1\ and other officers, with nearly forty members of the a large number of whom took part in the competit ion A of well contested races took place. Dr. Vernon, ll1 handll1g the medals to the successful men, referred to the fact that both the Royal Humane Society and t.he qrder of St. John presented medals for bravery in rescull1g Me, and he l10ped that this corps of the br iuade would at some future time have in their midst of these who l:ad put into practice what they were then learl1lng. He sll1cerely wished them success.

D:. Hayman said he was so impressed by the enth USIasm of those present that for t heir encourageme nt he would give two otber medals to be competed for at t he end of this season

HI<:RNE B.\.V .--Members of tbis Divis ion, unde r Supt. Shelley, were on duty on the occaSlOn of the Coronation festivities held in Strocle Park on Auuust 11t h

1 b a,so on . the day of the regatta, August 2 i , and the CoronatIon fete, ,held at Stroue Park, in aid of t h e Queen VIctOrIa Memonal COLLage Hospital Bu il ding Fund on

Septembe r, 1902. -F I RST

A u gu st 28th Happi ly no senous accident occurred on ei her date

I LKESTON. - Through the generosity of Dr. Arthur Dobson, the Hon . Surgeon, about sixty members of the Division, including the members of the band, were entertained to tea on Saturday afternoon, August 23rd. Prior to the meal and subsequent to it the men in charge of Supt. Hu bble paraded and went through a series of drills on the Manor Ground

Sir Redvers Buller reviewed an assembly of the S.J.A.B. recently in Shipley-park, Ilkeston, Derbyshire

About 1,000 men were on parade, the principal places represented being Sheffield, Derby, Leeds, Halifax, Dewsbury, Mansfield, Belper, and Batley. There was a huge crowd, who broke through the ropes and seriously interfered with the proceedings. The general, who was in civilian attire, was enthusiastically received, and to the best of his ability, the crowd hampering him, he inspected the lines and evinced much interest in the ambulance drill. At one period Sir Redvers was so close pressed that he had to make a special appeal for elbow room "It may seem rude of me to say so," he good-humouredly remarked, "but I have not come here to see you," meaning the thousands who hemmed him in. "But we have come to see you," responded a voice in the crowd, at which there were approving cheers. Sir Redvers afterwards addressed a few general observations to the men, enlarging upon the importance of ambulance work and upon the value of the S.J.r\.D. in particular. He also bore personal testimony to the work they bad done both at home and abroad, and said that the Em pire had cause to be proud of their selfsacrincing devotions to humanity Mr. S. C. W ardell, Ueputy Commissioner NO.5 District, was in command, his chief officer being Assistant S . W. Malkin .

IpSWICH.-The members of the First Division held their first outing on Saturday, August 23rd. The party, numbering about forty, travelled by two brakes to the picturesque village of Dedham, where they made a pleasant boating excursion to Flatford Iills. On their return a sumptuous spread was partaken of at the Sun Hotel. ..:\fter dinner a convivial evening was spent, Hon. Surgeon Dr. S. O . Eades being voted as chairman. The toasts included "Success to S.J.A.D.," also "Success to thc First Division," and "The Honorary Secretary (?'I[r. H. Gosling) and Committee." ..:\ capital programme of yocal and instrumental music was contributed by members during the evening.

LElt:ll.-i \ n j\ mbulance Division has been formed at Leigh; Lancashire, and its members, who made their first public turn-out in smart new uniform on Saturday, j \ ugust 23fd, were kept busy at Plank-lane Catholic sports, Owing to the rough and sl ippery tracks no fewer than nine competitors, seven cyclists and two pedestrians, came to grief, and these, together a man 1"1:0 had epileptic Et, were successfully treated WIthout medIcal aSSIstance

SIIORElHTC II. - At the Shoreclitch (London) Coroner's Court, on S<.ttl.lr day, August 23rd, Dr. \ "ynn ,\ 'estcoLL presented P e. James Laker, 262 G, with a framed'and glazed certificate and £ [ IS., which were granted bim by the Society for the P rotection of Life from Fire On the night of 1arch 1St last, Laker-at thc risk of his own lifeentered a burning r00111 , fu ll of smoke, at 25, Felton-street, Shoreditch, and resc u ed an aged woman named B ridget H a ley, who, h o weve r died s h o r tly after wards

Continental Fire Escape.

THIS illustration shows a Continent:cl fire escape on a fourwheeled truck, capable of dealing with high buildings over 100 ft., and is constructed of several ladders, all of which telescope up to one short lenc:th. It is also of being worked in narrow streets. It is fitted wi th an apparatus for plumbing the ladders IV hen worked on an incline or hill, acting as a "tell-talc,' showing whether the machine is lewl or not. This im portan t feature is compicuous by its absence on all English nre escapes. Although this escape is designed to reach a considerable height, it closes up in a remarkably short space, unlike the ladders which can only be used in broad al'enues or streets The illutration i taken from a photograph sho\\'ingthc ladder e:-,.tended without any support whateyer. It might safely be said tbat most of our English fire escapes, reaching a considelable hei<Yht without being supported at the lOp, woulcl bend oyer a fishing-rod If the London Brigack Establishment Iyere supplied with similar m<1chll1es, our hotels and high buildings ,:'ould safe to sleep in, amI recent disasters I,"ould be entIrely a\'olded.

-------. --.

IIuLL.-.\t an inquest held on l\UgUSt 7th concerning the death of Charles McBride, who to burns receil'ecl in a f'tre which occurred the preVIOUS uay, r.c. 1cl)onald said tbat he fr)llnclthe deceased in a room full of smoke. \ t first be (witness) W.tS dri\'Cn back by the smoke. He crept in on his hands and knecs and saw McBride's letTS. He had only his shirl on and flamcs were playing his head; he \\"as inscl1 Witncss succeeded in getting him out and han.dccl hl111 to omc neighbours. The jury returned a \'crdIct death due to hock and tbe Coroner complimented 1. McDonald UPO;l his courage, which it \1'0. decided ShOlllu be brought under the notice of the Chief COl1slLlble.

AID.- Septem ber, 1902

FIRST AID

Cause and Effect

LETTERS continue to reach us from members of the S.J.A.B. on the subject of the prevailing spirit of unrest. From many correspondents we gather that it is a very general opinion that had the annual conferences been continued on the lines originally laid down much of this disaffection would never have arisen. Possible grievances, ofttimes imaginary, were brought forward at these annual congresses and temperately discussed, and invariably nothing further was heard of them. It was, to use a phrase, "a safety yalve." " hen, however, the conference was transformed into a debating society, members lost all interest and faith in its powers for good, with the result that the attendance fell off, the feeling being engendered that the value of the Brigade Conference was nullified, and, in fact, under present conditions was absolutely ml. It is true that in one district conferences are still held, but as we presume this is solely for the discussion of district matters, its value is thereby curtailed; while the question is asked by one correspondent why one district should be permitted to hold a conference on the old lines, and the brigade as a whole be forbidden to do so.

Another burning question is the continued militarisation of the brigade, although, on this subject, our correspondents are by no means unanimous, especially as regards tile alteration in the uniform. Many strongly support the smartening of the uniform, and point out tbat a smart uniform must ne cessarily tend to smarten the individual, and we agree that there is decidedly some weigbt to be attached to this argument, for it has always appeared to us that the uniform of the S.J.A.B. was neither as workmanlike nor as smart as it might be.

Some of our correspondents, again referring to the recent war and the lack of recognition on the part of the authorities, War Office and Colonial, have queried whether it would not have been better for the brigade to have run its own hospitals instead of amalgamating with the R.A.M.C. The Portland, the Langman, the Imperial Yeomanry, and other private hospitals, were run independently and experienced no difficulty in obtaining money. For the services they undoubtedly rendered the principals of those hospitals have been recognised by the authorities, but up to the present the S.J.A.B., in the person of its and other officials, has received absolutely no recogmtlOn whatever. Why is it? Was it due to the fa::t that it was incorporated with and regarded as part of the regular forces of the country? We should hope not. The

splendid voluntary service rendered by the members of the brigade has been referred to by more than one promine n t man, but by no one more strongly than by the Secretary for the Colonies, and, tardy though it may be, we do hope that as a result of his eloquent address some recognition of the services of the brigade will be shortly forthcoming.

While we agitate for this recognition, there is much that is instructive in the correspondence which is at present going on in the provincial press, and which should be read by all who are interested in this splendid movement. For our part we have but one feeling for the Associrtion and its voluntary helpers, and that is a feeling of admiration for the work they have already accomplished, and a sincere desire that in the future success may still attend their efforts for the public weal.

Ho w to Foste r Infe c tion!!!

WE have had frequent occasion of raising our voice against the absurdity of cranky legislation, when the welfare of the great majority is sacrified to the over-zealous legislator, in order to save an irresponsible minority from their own ignorance

Halfpenny "shockers II have for years attracted our eyes and ears by glaring headlines to some cxceptional cases of self-destruction, which no amount of legal care or legislation could have prevented.

Unlike muzzles, we have yet to find means to control suicidical maniacs, and then, perhaps, the most effectiv.e steps would bring ruin to an important trade without affording the corresponding blessing of prevention.

The Pharmacy Act of 1898 restricts the sale of the most effectual disinfectants to duly registered chemists and druggists. The importance of this doubtful prohibition can only be realized when the abhorrence of the lower classes is taken into account when called upon to spend their hard-earned pennies at the chemist, for what to them seems a superfluous luxury.

A representative of FIRST AID has lately had the plea.sure .of meeting Mr. Richard J. Clark, manager of the AntiseptiC Department of the firm of Burt, Bolton and Haywood, Ltd. This gentleman, who has the whole grie."ance at his fingers' ends, feels very strongly upon the subject, and would, undoubtedly, afford a bad quarter of an hour to the Legislator who, perhaps as a champion of an already affluent trade, helped to secured an Act which may at the near future cause disastrous consequences.

The largest users of disinfectants, as Mr. Clark obs.erved, are people who are not in the habit of buying their supply from chemists or druggists, and neither have they the. mea!ls to ascertain the pharmaceutical strength of theIr antlseptlc purchases Thus a areat b low is struck against the barrier of infection. b

Mr. Clark is justly indignant at the scheduling of "Carbolic," which hitherto has been one of the cheapest and most effectu.al disinfectants in general use; and he is confiden.t that thiS will be driven into oblivion by its own .Iud lcrous restnctIOns, so strongly in conflict with t h e best mte rests of t he general p u b l ic

The Motor Fire King.

DURING the Margate N.F.B.U. Tournament last July, we opportunity to admire the dignified "Fire Fighter" whlch Messrs. Merryweather, the originators of this particular motor, so aptly dubbed the" Fire King."

By the courtesy of this pushing firm our representative has been able to make a closer acquaintance with this motor engine, and the result of his practical investigation will be gratifying to those of our brave "fire heroes II who have constantly been labouring for the efficiency of the British fire service

From an exhaustive demonstration accorded to our representative, we have deduced the accomplished fact that the motor "Fire King II is decades in advance of any experimental motors of similar type, and undoubtedly offers advantages which should be appreciated by all who are desirous of seeing better tools and less red tape at our omniponent headquarters.

The manifold uses to which this class of motor may

AID. - 41 Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

Considerable excitement was caused near St. Paul's recently by fire engines dashing up and stopping opposite the Cathedral. The cause of the turn-out was a more than usually smoky chimney in the house of Archdeacon Sinclair, St. Paul 's A passer-by, seeing the dense smoke emergmg as it were from the slates immediately rung the fire with the resul.t that engines were on the spot wlthm a couple of mmutes. A brief investigation, however, assured the firemen that there was no need for their services.

A very interesting ceremony took place at the INew Cross fire station the other night, wh en officers and' men from all parts gathered to do honour to a retiring comrade Mr. T. C. Pearch, who was the senior sup erintendent of London Brigade, and who has served for a period of no less than 30 years, and has been a fir e-fighter all oYer London during that period. The ceremony took place in

be put will undoubtedly attract customers from the Colonies, where hydrants are rather an exception, and pumping is resorted to to obtain the necessary supply.

The engine is built on the Merryweather "Gem " pattern, of solid Channell steel. The motor is one of 30 I.H.P., and is capable of mounting the steepest gradientsas proved by the 200 miles run, accomplished without any accidents, in hilly Kent.

By the aid of a gas burner, which maintains the steam when the motor is at rest, a quick "turn-out" may be effected; and the liquid fuel used for these motors has proved to be an excellent steam producer, attaining the 601bs. pressure necessary for the start within a 111 inu te-anda-half.

We have inspected a very satisfactory testimonial from one of our Colonies where one of these motors has been in constant use for the past three years, proving that the Merryweather motor has passed the experimental stage.

the big recreation room, which ,vas closely filled with me mbers of the force and old friends of nIr. "Tom " Pearch. The presentation was made by :'IIr. Sydney G. Gamble, second officer, in a graceful and pleasing speech. Braye men are not always good speech-makers, and :JIr. "T. P. " nearly broke down when he returned thanks in a short and manly speech. The presentation took the form of a handsome clock, with ornaments to match, and an addr ess on vellum (beautifully executed by one of the officers of the brigade).

The annual swimming competitil)n of the :t-.Ietropoli.tan Fire Brigade was held on Monday, Sept. 8th, at the Lav1l1 gton-street Baths, Southwark. The events were witnessed by a large company. The inter-district team race was the chief fixture. In this contest teams of four swam two lengths of the bath (66 yards), for a cup sen ted by the Metropolitan Fire Brigade AthletiC Assoc13ASK

-F1RS'!'

tion, the mem bers of the winning team receiving a gold medal in addition. The winners last year were the " D " (South Eastern) district, but on Monday on.e. of their members slipped into the bath at the start, spollmg the chance of the South Eastern men. In the final the "C" (East End) won in 3 min. 58 sec

On Monday evening, Sept. 1 st, a meeting of tradesmen of the neighbourhood was held at o. 3, Blackheathhill, for the purpose of organising a to Mr. David Wall who until recently has been officer-m-eharge of the London County Council's fire station at Lindsellftreet B1ackheath-hil1. Mr. F. H. Dawe presided, and there 'were also present Me"isrs. Godfree, Selkirk, Browning, Pinnock and C. Watson. Letters from Lord Hugh Cecil, LP., 1\1r. John 1)enn, M.P., and Mr. G. W. Tripp were read, heartily approving the project and enclosing subscriptions to the fund. The Rev. Charles Spurgeon, of Southstreet Baptist Church, Greenwich, also expressed himself in the same sense. Mr. Wall, who before his appointment to Greenwich was stationed at Catford, and llas now after 28 years' service in the Metropolitan Brigade, accepted the post of Supt. of the Fire Brigade. is held in high esteem both in the servIce and by the public. The Editor of Tlze X-elltislz JI.ferc1l7J' is hon. treasurer of the testi monial fund, and subscriptions, large or small, sent to him at 6-14, Blackheath-road, Greenwich, will be welcomed and duly a "kllowledged in the columns of that journal. The form which the testimonial will take depends upon the response to the committee's appeal, which response, it is hoped, will be generous

J,affan's Agency circulates the following fable from Tew York, 9th September :-" Mr. George Hale, ex-Chief of the Kansas City fire department, bas receiyed an invitation to go to London to re-organise the fire department there. Mr. Hale has twice taken teams of American firemen abro!J.d, and has won first honours at all the firemen's tournaments."

1\ Central News reporter, on enquiry at tbe headquarters of tbe London Fire Brigade, was informed tb at the report was incorrect.

Any such invitation could only come from the Fire Brigade Committee: of tbe County Council, and none had been sent. 'Whether tbe invitation has come from some irresponsible authority is a matter that does not concern the London Fire Brigade.

To adopt an Americanism, we might say" Somebody's a fooling of you, boney."

Messrs. Alloa and Henry, the well-known and bighly respected firsL and second officers of the Brussels Fire Brigade, have tendered their resignations to tbe City Council.

3' E

Two Americans in London inspected a certain fireengine station One of them remarked to the chief engineer: "no you know, in New York we use a nine-inch hose, not a paltry three-inch, such as you ll ave here," "Ob," was tbe reply, "that's for watering the station! Tbis," holding up a lwelve-inch sucLion hose, "is what we use at fires. Besides, it saves the use of fire-escapes, for when we want to send a man to the top of the building, we just place bim on the top of tbe hose, turn on the water, and be's up in no time!" "Yes," said one of the visitors, " but how does he come down again?" "\\'ell," replied the engineer, "he simp ly places his arms round the jet of water, and slides down." The American.:; l ooked at each other a moment, and then walked away.

National Fire Brigades Union.

The Midland District of the above union held their annual competition in the grounds of t.he Wolverballlpton Exhibition on September 4th, ther e bemg a large attendance. Before the competition the brigades, headed .iJy .the \Volv erhampton Police Fire Brigade, parade? the prinCIpal streets, there being steam and manua_l e.ng1l1es and 300 firemen present. The prinCIpal comr.etltlOns were :-the Mitchell challenge shIeld for manual dnll, won by tbe Newcastle (Stafrordshire) Fire Brigade in 122 seconds; the I saac Challenge Cup, given by Mr. B. Richard Isaac, the well-known fire engineer and expert of Liverpool, for hose cart a.nd ' drill,. won the Cape Hill Brewery (Binmngham) Fu-e Bngade III 33 seconds; the Chrysslle Silver Challenge for drill also being carried oCf by the Cape HIll Brewery (Birmingham) Fire Brigade in 44 2-5th seconds. competitions were concluded, Ir. Isaac gave a hfe-savlllg display with a canvas cbute from the top of.D special structure 50 ft. high, also \VJl son s patent automatlc fire - escape, which lowers persons by means of a rope. Persons were also lowered by his own patenL life-line.

The annual demonstration of the North Wales Branch of the N.F.B.U. Look place at Denbigh, 0n Sept. 4th, and was held in conjunction with the Vale of Clywd Agricultural Show. The brigades present were Abergele, Festiniog, Bodrhyddau, Colwyn Bay, Conway, Denblgh, Dolgelly, Ll and udno, Prestatyn, Mold, Ruthin, Llangollen, and Sandycroft, and they were entertained to luncheon by the Mayor and Corporation of Denbigh aL the Drill Hall, after which they drove to the show field, where the competi tions took place.

Dr. Ett1es, late chief officer of the ambulance deparLment o f the N.F.B.U., has been appointed medical oUicer for District No. II, under the London County Council, in succession to his la e father-in-law and partner, 1k Cotman. Dr. Ettles will be best known to our readers as the author of the very useful, article on "First-Aid in Cases of Scalds," which appeared in our columns a short tune Sll1ce.

Provincial Fire Brigades.

AI.DERSHOT.-A bicycle gymkhana was 11eld at Aldershot on August 27th, in a id of th e Children's Hospilal Guild, and among the attract ion s was a lifesaving display by the Aldershot Volunteer Fire Brigade. Among those taking part was a fireman named William Harris, who was also one of the 1st Hants Volunteer Company who served in South Africa Dummies were being thrown out of one of the windows of a building into a jumping sheet, which was held by men below, when suddenly the body of what appeared to be a woman was seen to fallout of a window on a higher s lorey, Ceel do\\·n\\'anJs.

Septemberl 190:2.

-FIRST

At first the spectators thought that this was part of the display, but it quickly became known that it was the fireman Harri s, dressed as a female, who had fallen close to one of the jumping sheets, the side of his head and shoulder being fearfully injured. Assistance was at once forthcomi ng from the local branch of the Ambulance Association, and a medical gentleman was instantly ll1 attendance, but the man expired within a few minutes

The inquest was held on 29th.

The principal witness was Captain Solomon, of the Aldershot Volunteer Brigade, who explained to the jury the working of the life-saving belL. He thought that the accident might have occurred through the steel hook on the belt shifting round, and by the deceased in his excitement attaching it to a smaller ring instead of the steel loop, or "D," that was capable of supporting half-a-ton. When the deceased was let off from the burning building along the life-line upon which he, by means of the hook, was to slide safely to the ground, his weight tore the light hook out of the belt, and he fell about 40 ft. to the ground Captain Solomon said that he regarded the pompier ladders and the belt life-saving apparatus as the finest extant. Tbey could save ten lives from a burning building by them where they could only save one by the ordinary ladder escapes They could use the ladders on buildings eight stories high, and they had never had an accident before. He should, however, never use the hook again until a bar had been put on to prevent its moving round. The deceased was quite acquainted with the working of the belt, and must have been excited, or made the mistake on account of the woman's clothes which he was wearing to illustrate how a woman was to be saved. The jnry returned a verdict of ".\ceidental death," and hoped Captain Solomon would call the defect of the otherwise excellent apparatus to the notice of the makers. ever in the history of Aldershot has there been such a manifestation of public sympathy as that which was accorded at tlle funeral of Fireman Harris. The majority of the business houses were closed. The body was borne on a steamer, and the coffm covereJ with the Union Jack, deceased having been a member of the Hampshire Volu nteers and ba vi ng served in Sou th ) frica. Firemen a ted as pall-bearers, and a mounted escort of police under Supt. Hawkins, led the way. Next came representati"es of the following brigades :- .\Iclershot, in full force; Isle of \Vi ght, Bournemouth, Farnborough, Farnham, Odiham, Alton, Camberley, Yorktown, Weybridge, Aldershot Military Brigades, Guildford, GodaJming, and Fleet. The procession of helmeted men was quite a mile in length. Then followed detachments of the Hampshire Volunteers, Hants Yeomanry, Surrey Yeomanry, and representatil'cs of the Cavalry Brigade, Infantry Brigades, and Volunteers of other counties. There were over 200 magnificent wreaths, and the utmost sympathy was manifested by thousands around the open grave-side for the bereaved family.

BRAY.-\Ve have had sent us an account of a fireengine which, it is claimed, can beat the record of the St. Albans enginc (157 years) by eight years. It was to the parish of Bray by Lady o1craine, of Cannon 1-1111, in 1737 During the summer of last year it was taken oul, cleaned, and painted by the Bray Parish Council. Soon after a [Ire occurred in the neighbourhood, and Lhe eng in e, after a long rest of clme on a cenLury, played an active part in extinguishing what mighl have been a yery destructi\'e

Al

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1\. high tea was afterwards served at the Cock Hotel under the presidency of Captain J. Wind us.

Cotti? propo.sed "The Epping Fire Brigade."

1 he Chairman, m responding, said the Brigade had five calls last Commenting upon the drills, he said the one-man drill was not quite equal to last year's result, but the two-man drill was better. He did not think they to compete for prizes" up the road. In hIS Op1l11On a good all-round brigade was beller than a few "cry fine men, and Epping would be ab.le to stand Its own ground with any neighbouring bngade.

!he prizes were distributed by Supt. Pryke, and the remamder of the evening was spent in toast and song.

PRESTON. - On Monday afternoon, September 17th, .i\lderm.l11 Pearson and Councillor T. Dewhurst, cnairman and vice-chairm::1.l1 of the Fire and Lighting Committee, took advantage of the monthly practice to visit the fire station and congratulate Superintendent Sayage and the of the. brigade upon the excelle nt display they made 111 the GllIld trades procession.

Alderman Pearson said be had been spoken to very frequently, not only by members of the Council, but by many inhabitants and visitors, all of whom Iyere delighted with the excellent turn-out. Special arrangements were made for dealing with outbreaks of fIre during the memorable week, and he desired to thank all concerned for the loyal manner in which the instructions of the committee were adhered to. For some time now the brigade'S response to fire calls had been most praiseworthy, and had repeatedly earned the commendation of those who had been unfortunate anough to requisition their serVlces.

Councillor Dewhurst cordially endorsed the Chairman's remarks, adding that it must haye been a source of satisfaction to know that during the week of festiyities the brigade was ready to turn out at a moment's notice.

Friday afternoon, August 29th, the annual competitions held in connection with the Wellingborough Yolunteer }'ire Brigade took place ill the Commercial School sports field, in the presence of a large number of yisitors. .\fter the competitions the members of the Brigade and their \yives and sweethearts were entertained at the residence of Supt. Pendered. Tea was provided on the lawn, the ladies first sitting down, and later on the gentlcmen, Mrs. Pcndered, assisted by sel'eral lady friends, having prepared an excellent repast. Owing to the storm which came on at the conclusion of the tea, the party adjourned to the house, where the prizes \rere distributed. 'uot. Pendered expressed the hope that the 1)ress would make it known to the public of Wellingborough how grateful the members of the brigade felt for the \Yay in which they had so liberally subscribed to their funds this year. It was a record year; they had never before been patronised in the liberal way they had been this year. I L showed that the public had great confidence and faith in the fire brigade, and he felt sure that the members would regard it as an incentive in the future to do, if possihle, their duty better than they had done it in the past. The prizes were then awarded to the competitors in the onc-man and two-men engine drills.

The History and Development of Manual, Steam and Motor Fire Engines.

By CRAS. T. CROWDEN, M.C.E.I., M L.A.F E., ?'d.S.A., &c &c

(Contt'lZZted from page 27.)

Up to the year r890 the whole of the steam fire eng in e business was practicaJlv in the lunds o.f two firms, but ahout this time an opponent came 1111:0 eXIstence, but only

AID.

- Septem ber, 1902

Fig 38 shows a double cylinder "Vulcan" e ngine at 3 60 gals capacity, built for the Belfast Corporation. The reG. 37.

author, at the trials of one of these engines at Peterborough, delivered continuously one or two jets over the square tower of the cathedral, with great succc ess, in a manner not hitherto accomplished.

Septem ber, 1902. -FIRST

Fig 42 shows the arrangement of the double cylinder pumping engine for Figs. 37, 3 8 and 39.

Fig. 43 shows the treble cylinder pumping engi n e to Fig. 40.

hous e, th e pumping engine being slung on a special crane. In the event of fire one of the shunting locomotives fitted with the necessary attachments would fetch the pumping

Fig. 44 is the "Vulcan" stearn fire pump, which was constructed for the Preston Corporation from the author 's own designs. It was constructed in the short space of fourteen weeks from date of order, and was capable of throwing a 2t in. diameter jet at Iool bs. pressure, delivering over 2,000 gals of water per minute, or roughly speaking, about 9 tons.

45. engin e, when it would be coupled up to the locomotive with flexible steam and exhaust pipes.

Fig. 46 shows a double cylinder "Vulcan" engine throwing water over Wakefield Town H a ll on Saturday, J an uary 20th, 1893.

The following will b e interesting with regard to the

FI G 3+.

for a few years. The history accomplished by this opponent company is now shown by the following illustrations. These engines were of a type known as the "Vulcan," and were constructed, from the designs and under the personal

superintendence of the author of this paper, by the late Fire Appliances ManufacLllring Company, of London, and Vulcan \\l orks, Northalllpton.

Fig. 34 shows one of these single cylinder engines on a two-wheel e d carriage. The engine could be detached from the carriage 'when required.

Fig. 45 is a double cylinder "Vulcan" engme, "Fran(::esco Toso." This engine was designed and constructed specially for South America, and was pronounced to be the finest finished and working steam fire engine in South America, of either English or American manufacture ; and as a result future orders were sent over to England, only to be executed by others.

FIG. +5 ,\. of th ese ,; Yulc::l.l1" fire-engines at a large fire in Belfast :- Extract from report in Northern JV/z ig, Belfast, r8th October, 1893, of large fire on the previous eYening, resulting in damage to the extent of £20,000 : "The supply of water was plentiful, and the pressure from the 'Vulcan'

Fig. 3.5 shows a small-size d single cylinder eng in e, which would delIver far more water than a manual enuine at a slightly increased cost b

Fig. 36 is another single cylinder steam fire engine of a type, of delivering 250 gals. per minute.

1<1g. 37 IS a s.team fire engine with two cylinders, const ru cted by speClal order and requirements of Colonel Seabroke for the Rugby Fire Brigade.

Fig. 45a shows a three cylinder "Vulcan" steam fire engine fitted to the Loco. "Ironsides," constructed for the London and Southampton docks under Clarke's patent, in which the steam fir e engine is kept separately in an e ngin e

FlG. +6. steamer, which worked admirably, threw it out in dense volumes The steamer performed its work in a manner which was highly creditable to its makers. T.o t the slightest vibration as is usual in such a class of engll1es, was to be observed: a.nd the amount of work done by it proves beyond a doubt that the Corporation in acquiring these steamers took a step in the right direction."

(To be contt'ntted.)

FIG 35.

FIG. 36.

FI C 38.

Fig. 39 shows a double cylinder, 450 gals. capacity, steam iJre engine, supplied to the Belfast Corporation Adelaide, Wakefield, &c.

FIG. 39.

Fig. 40 shows a treble cylinder, 900 gals per minute, two of which wel:e supplied to the Belfast Corporation.

FlG. 40. FIC. 41. }'ig. 41 shows the single cylinder pumping engine of Figs. 34, 35 and 3 6

FIG. 42.

FIG. 43.

FIG 44.

FIG.

-FIRST

A I

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Letters to the Editors.

THE S.J.A. 1\1E AT TIlE FRONT.

SIRS, - I am an ex-R.A.i\r.C. man, and on the call for volunteers to supplement the ranks of the corps I at once volunteered my services throug h an ag:ency, al:d I \\as attached to a hospital. I went out, and J thmk I clJd my duty well. l\ly previous training, of course, served n?e Jl1 good stead, ?lnel I think r earned the respect of my supenors for the 'way I cbdmy work.

ow my object in m-iting to you is to protest against the laudation which has been accorded to the St. John s men. It is assumed that they were almost medical students by the way they are referred to. \Vh en went to their headquarters [ was treated with but scant courtesy, and told I was a "scally\\'ag." This I found meant did not possess their certificate and was enrolled in response to an advertisement.

Hut now, sir, I am in a position t? say that out of nUIJ1bel' of St. John 's men who went out WIth us the maJonty were recruited by advertisement; they came from the North of England, and I have in my possession a copy of the which can pro\ e the truth of what I say. Now, can It be contended that these men, who perhaps only attended one course of St. ] 01111's lectures, and that perhaps years ago, were better men than an ex-R.A.M C. man, \\'ho h a d had at least three years' actual training in the work he was calleel upon to do? I don't begrudge the St. John 's men the extra medal they are to g-et, but I do not think that they should pose as the sa\'iours of the R.A.:\r.C., when there were many other oldmemb ers of the corps who came forward for Queen and country, as didYours truly,

"A SCALLYWA G."

"SHALL WE :\lUNICIPALISE THE A l\tIBULANCE SERVICE ?"

DEAR SIRS,-I was very pleased to read your article in last issue concerning the brigade movement, and seeing in the annual report received last week that in the South-'Nestern division there are a large number who haye sent in no returns, viz., 18, as against 8, 5 and in Xorthern divisions. amI even in Northern division places like Birmingham (C ity) Derby, Bradford, Sheffield and H uddersfield, I would like to add my experience as hon. sec. of this centre.

'vVe took up the brigade movement for a time, but the regulations interfered too much with the practical and useful work of a voluntary body of men, and we therefore severed our connection.

The first occasion that we had to comphin was as far back as 1890, when I received a letter from Chief Supt, \\'. ChurchBrazier, calling my attention to a rule re conveying patients out of a five mile radius, and informing me that we had no right to undertake removals a longer distance. This was one of a set of rules formed by the brigade authorities some five years after I hacl personally removed a case to Wimbledon and otbers to London hospitals; our own county hospital was ten miles off, and at that time we had no cottage hospital in the neighbourhood. 'vVere \\'e then to give up these sen'ices rendered for bare railway fares, &c., and employ a staff from London at excessive charg es? Vve said, No! :'ll1d took no notice of the letter.

I had another experience of officia.lism on a change of officers. I gave notice of the election of a new superintendent, and received reply, that if I would fill in a certrlin form and submit to them, no doubt the appointment would be sanctioned Here ag-ain we thought it was interfering too much, Who was best judge as to the capabilities of the member? \Ve who knew and worked with him, or officials in London who had never seen or heard of him? They refused to recognise the change, so we decided to go back to our own lines, similar to theirs, but uncler control of our own committee, as we had done prior to joining the brigade movement since 1882.

1\1y opin Ion is that the movement is all right for large towns, where members take it up as they would the volunteer movement, but in small places those who take up ambulance work are those who are occupied with other \\ 'ork of a voluntary nature, such as chora l societies, cricket, footb:1ll, cycling, and

Septem ber, 1902

other clubs, and, as you say, it is rather hard to tr y and c ram more \\ ork on them You will see by the report of last year that ours is not a centre that only exists on paper. Our occurrence books record over 800 cases, and my experience extends from formation of centre in 1882, and I have had the pleasure of being its hon. secretary for 13 years I am afraid after reading Col. Bowdler:s report that his tone is not one that will indu ce those who have severed their connection to rejoin a movement which is gelling more bound up with military red tape e\'ery year.

Should you feel that any parts of this letter are of use to you, you are at liberty to make what use you will of it. Apologising fo r trespassing so long on your time, and wishing your paper under its new management every success.-I am, dear Sirs, yours faithfully, A. \VlN SLADE. Farnham, August r8th.

DE ,\R SIRS, - \Vith reference to the much dis c ussed subjects Uniform, Discipline, a nd the Headquarter Arrangements of the S.].A.B., may we presume on your columns?

As members of the brigade we blush : -

1. That we have never been thoroughly inspected by headquarter officers.

2. That, after many clays, leggings were issued - unclerstood to be at least second-hand,

3. That divisions, improperly equipped, "'ere allowed to go through the sham inspection at the Tower this year. Some of the di\'isions still remain so.

4, That m en do not parade ac co rding to parade orders. One man paraded at the l\1emorial Church Parade at St. Paul's, with a water bottle and leggings!! !! Yet he was allowed to proceed.

5, That all headquarter men \\'ere not so smart as Sergt.Major Smith on August 9th, 6 a.m

6. That men do not serve a set period of service, and the lax ways of the brigadejustify warm comments.

I nstead of our present motto , one more appropriate would be: "These clothes were not made for me."

Thanking you in anticipation of some notice being takenheadquarters would trlke none. - We are, yours in confidence, " DISCIPLINE" A:\TD "OLD LE GG INGS,"

GENTLEl\1EN, - I am venturing to lay before you certain facts which I am led to be li eve will be carefully perused, and I trust replied to at 110 yery distant date.

I need scarcely say that I, in common with many more ambulance workers, thoroughly appreciate your fearless and yet friendly criticism on ambulance work, ancl I feel sure that your actions \\·i ll ultimately result in materially helping to sweep a\\'ay the many acts of injustice under which many ambulance workers are smarting, both in the S.] .A.B. and other yolunteer ambulance bodies.

In June, 900, I wrote to the late Editor of FIRST AlD, and carefully laid before him the history and origin of this corps, its attempt to join the brigade as a mmine division, its enrolment verbally, ancl permission to obtain a somewhat different uniform, which, when purchased, was rejected by th e local brigade officials; and when the officers appealed to the local centre of the Association, a strong letter was received from a brigade official clearly setting forth that the officers and members of this corps had never been members of the Since then we have suffered much persecution at their hands, and everything possible is done to prevent LlS from continuing our \\'ork, or receiving assistance from the public, and the local head of the brigade informs us that he is instructed "to fig-ht us tooth and nail unless we join them;" which statement is I cam sorry to say, being rigorously carried put.

UntIl Ollr corps was started, no ambulance work of any kll1d was done around our clocks, wharves and riversides, and as you wIll see by our" first annual report, " we have establIshed eIght properly equipped stations anc! are attending many cases, in addition to which of our members are officers and seamen living on board steamers and sai ling vessels, sai lin g to and from this port.

The brigaele do not possess a single equipped sta tion Jl1 any parl of the cIty; they will not compete wilh \IS in ambu-

Septem ber, 1902. -F IR ST

lan ce competitions (I may add we hold all [2J the cups for ambulance work in Bristol ), and tbe feeling has reached a very high tension amongst the members of this corps and the brigade \Ve received a visit from Dr. Henry \Voods, In spector General of Hospitals and Fleets, who put the members through a se\ ere test in all branches of ambulance work a month or so ago, and a fterw ards he expressed his admiration and approval of the work clone. That gentleman also went carefully into the differences between our corps and the bngade, and it is his earnest wish that some settlement may be arrived at.

What I would particularly wish to lay before you is the manner in which the l oca l officials of the S,J.A.B. are endeavouring to injure us. Surely such an Order as that of St. J o11n does not approve of such treatment as we are receiving. I nfiuence is brought to bear in every possible way to pre\'e nt us in taking part in any demonstration or street duty. The local centre of the S .J .A,A is informed that it must not re cognise this corps, and has had to explain to headquarters, London, why it allowed our corps to be mentioned on a poster it sent out at the time of the annual competition. The brigade official here has even said that the local centre will very likely be broken up becausetwoofthe officers of this corps are members of the general committee of the centre During last winter Lord Brassey kindly conseilted to become patron of this corps, within three months pressure was brought to bear lIpon hiS lordship, and he ultimately withdrew his patrOl1dge.

The above will give you an idea of tl1e state of things here, and I think you will agree with me that it is a most deplorable state of affairs , The members of this corps are mostly sailors, I have been in command of a hospital ship carrying doctors and nurses aboard for three years , vVe learn marine ambulance work, and are ready to provide men for hospital ships and other naval vessels in time of war, and I maintaJJ1 that we are qualified and able to perform suc.h work at sea, which cannot be done by the maJonty of the ambulance men on lanel. Such being the case, why cannot we be allowed state our views 111 London, But we are prevented from el0111g so.

\Vhen a letter was sent by our council, a reply was received that we could not be recognised unless we reverted to our former position as a division of the local corps of the brigade; and yet we hold in writing a letter to the effect that we never hael been members of the brigade. 'vVhen we asked for an interview, we were informed that we could not. see the officials; therefore you can gather for yourself how unfaIrly we are l)ell1g treated.

In laying these facts before you, with our" first annual report," I trust I am ,not burdening you,. and I shall de.er:1 It a OTeat fa\ 'our and assIstance If you wlll gIve me your op111lOn of fhis unpleasant state of affairs, which is having a baneful effect on the tinancial prospects of both bodIes. .

OwinlJ" to the lack of funds caused by thIS senous dlsagTeemenf, our corps is being mamly by its and in spite of all we are able to contll1ue our work, whIch IS rapidly gTowing, as yOLl will see by the enclosed" report. ",'o urs faithfully, J os. F. TREZISE, Hon. Sec. Bristol Marine Ambulance Corps, Headquarters: Seamen's Institute, Prince-street, Bristol.

MOTOR FIRE ENGINES A D AMBULANCE CARS.

DEAR SJR. ,-As motor fire engines seem a desirable thing just now for the Londonfire presumably lives were lost at the Queen VlCtona-street fire, I would P0111t out that the question of the prompt arrival of the brigade at this, or any other fire, was not questioned; are ll1vanaoly prompt when they get the calL I f people wIll stand and stare at a fire instead of running at once to the nearest call-post and ringing the alarm, it does not seem to me the brigade should be blamed.

I fail to see, apart from the maker s' int.eres.ts, why there s h ould be so much enthUSiasm (heat of lmagll1atlOn) concerning motor ve hicl es, especially when adapted to ambulances and fire engines,

A ID. - 47

Week after week, numbers of motor car accidents, not a few of them fatal, are reported from all over the kingdom, and in America some of the most prominent people and members of ancient families have been killed in these accidents, and yet it is the custom to ignore these facts. I rode on a motor car recently, and previous to starting was informed that this pattern car could not break down, but we lo st twenty minutes in getting' it to start, and came home with machinery leaking. As regards motor fire engines, they seem to me unavoidably heavy and clumsy.

Though accompanied by a mechanic with tools, &c., when going to a fire, if the driving chain lost its rivet through vibration as they do with other heavy motors that attain anything of a speed-valuable time would have to be spent in fitting in a fresh one; whereas, in any town or city of moderate size, spare horses are soon available should one or more horses fail. Again, should a motor fire engine break down and you \\ anted horses to take it on to a fire to prevent losing time in repairing, you would be obliged to have horses of the brewer's-dray type, not always to be had at a moment's noti ce.

For ambulance purposes it seems equally unsuitable, and very expensive; indeed, the light and airy way people coolly talk of vehicles at .£1,000 apiece would be amusing if it clid not threaten the pocket of the already Q\'er-burclened ratepaycrYours sincerely,

L. A. C. September 2nd, 1902.

A POLICE COl STABLE'S IDEA OF HOW TO Ai\1BULA CE LONDON.

SIRS,-Place a litter with every fixed point in the :;\Ietropolitan Police Distri c -the litters to be exactly the same as th e latest pattern issued to the police, with the addition of rubber tyres; a red cross badge on the apron, a blue enamelled on footboard with "Street Accident Ambulan ce" on It 111 white letters. This would cost, perhaps, '£7,000 initial outlay, but very little a year to maintain. Any plan would mean spendll1g rt lot ofmoney.-Faithfully yours,

A i\IETROPOLITAN POLICE

LO?\G SER \'ICE BARS

DEAR SIRS, - I has often occurred to me that the bars attached to tbe long-sen-ice medal of the N.F.B.l!. are \'e ry misleading to anyone who is not a fireman or \\"ho IS not connected witb fire brigade \\"Ork. Tak1\1g the,first bar (for fifteen years service), it would to on,e not 111 the know, that that particular fireman WIth It on hlS breast had sen'ed fi\'e years' only, I would suggest that .the officials of the N.F.B.U call in all the bars that have been Issued for fifteen years service and issue others with the ,,'ords " Fifteen Years" on thef!1, and at the end of the next five years' en'ice, call that one Il1 and issue nne with the words "Twenty Years, " and so on.-l am, deal- sirs, yours faithfully,

H. B.

September [st, 1902

THE FIRST i\IOTOR FIRE E GINE.

DEAR SIRS - I note from the American Press that you say motor fire engin'es were first used i:J this country by Eccles. I wish to say this is not quite correct. \V orcester was the town in Great Britain to adopt a motor stea:-11 fire engll1e Eccles purchased a small motor car and fitted. It up as a fire tender. The \V orcester motor steam fire engme earned more men more bose, and more gear than the Eccles fire tender e\'er did_' The first machine has been abandoned for another of a later date. Leamington has just gi\-en me an order for a mO.tor tender carrying an escape propelled .by Jl-:ternal. combustIOn engines developing about 20 h p" and lS ,bUllt entIrely for fire bri aade purposes and will possess noveltIes t!1at have not yet constructed'in any other pre\'ious machll1e I hope you will correct tbis in your next issue_-I am, yours falthfully, CH,\S T. CRO\\'DE:\,. Leaming ton, August, 2:md, 1903

The i\Iedical Officer of Heal[h for North .Woolwich \\Tites to the A-enlisll 3fcrmry :_Cl I shall be If you \\'Ill make 1-;119\\'\1 through your columns that the pubJtc aCCIdent and non-

infectious ambulance, for which the subscription was raised, has now been completed, and it is in the care of Mr. Chick, cab proprietor, 86, Herbert-road. Anyone requiring the use of the a mbulance for cases of accident or illness can obtain it on application and payment of the statutory cab fare. The ambulance has cost £90, towards which £85 has been raised by subscription. I shall glad to receive contributions towards the remaining £ 5, and any surplus received wi ll be devoted towards expenses which are sure to arise in connection with the ambulance."

Mrs. Walter Rowley, the indefatigable lady secretary for the women's class in connection with the Leeds centre of the S.J.A.A., writes to the Yorkshire Post ;-

" ow that the war is happily over and peace assured, it is my duty and pleasure to give an account of my stewardship connected with the work I undertook for the despatch of comforts for the sick and wounded and our troops generally at the seat of war through the Press that published my appeal.

"My last case of goods was forwarded to Southampton some weeks since for the use of soldiers returning from the front. My books are made up, and it remains only for me to ment ion to those whom it may interest tbat, tbrough the sympathy and generosity of many in Leeds and neighbourhood and a large part of Yorkshire, and even beyond its borders, I was enabled to forward comforts for our soldiers to the estimated value of over £2,165.

" In actual money I received £18 16s. for materials for working parties and for the purcbase of gifts, left to my discretion as most needed.

"During the first two years of the war I forwarded regularly large cases of goods to the Red Cross Society, to the hospital ships, to various regiments, and later to Empress Dock, Southampton, for shipment. Several bales and cases of clothing were sent to the Soldier and Sailors' Homes at Portsmouth and Southampton for the use of returning troops and their wives and families.

" My grateful thanks are due to the railway companies who despat ched my numerous cases of "comforts" free of charge, also to tho se in the who, sal]1e generous spirit, sent me strong packin g cases whenever required.

"The ready re sponse to my appeal I shall ever keep in grateful rememberance, and once more I thank all those who thus assisted me in shedding a little ray of sunshine when a dark cloud of sorrow and anxiety hung over the nation."

[All honour co Mrs. Rowley. It is ladies like her who have done their best to minimise some of the horrors of the war and if they ha.ve not received worldly honours for their' selfsacrifice of time, they have earned the gratitude of Tommy and t hose he left behind him.--En. " F A."]

Voluntee r Ambulance School of Instruction .

President: Major Andrew Maclure, V.D., late L.S.R.V. Office; 23, Cambridge Street, Hyde Park, W. ORDERS:

Classes for the Training of Stretcher Bearers. - A Course of. Instru ctio n will be h eld at the Headqua rters of the 20th MIddlesex (ArtIsts ) H V., Duk e's- road, Euston-road, W. C., at 7.30 p.m., on Wednesd.a y, October 1st, 1902, by permIssIon of Colonel R. W. Edls, V.D., Commanding ArtIsts R.V.

(By Order ) P. 13. GILES, F.R.C.S., Brigade Surgeon Lt.-Col., Senior Medical Officer.

FAR:\[LV -At a meeting of the Parochial Committee

It was resolved that a St. John Ambulance Class be formed as the. num?er of firemen would only eight, that an be put 111 the local press giving any male person desmng to enter for the said Assoc iation's Cer tificate the liberty of doing so on paymGnt.

GARROULD'S FOR

ALL KINDS OF

NURSES' UNIFORMS, CAPS, COWNS, BONNETS, &c.

AS SUPPLIED TO

The Principal Ho s pitals and Nursin g In s titutions

__ A s at an early date we contemplate makin g some important improv ements in "FIRST AID , " it w ill be necess ary to increase the price of the Journal , and on and after January , 1903, the rate of s ubs cription w ill be 2 5. 6d. per annum , po s t fr e e , or 2d. p e r c o py

T o Our Read e r s

As it is the earnest wish and d esire of the new Proprietors to make this J (mrnal as aLlractive and entertaining as possible, correspondents in all parts of the country are asked to give it all the help they can. Superintendents of Corps and Officers of Divisions of the SL John Ambulance Brigade, Officers of the Volunteer Medical Staff Corps, the Volunteer Amlmlance School of In st ructi on, and Chief Officers of Fire Brigades will, it is hoped, do their best to make it known amongst the members of their re specLive o rgani sations, and will also send for publication their official news and notices. Suggestions are invite d for Prize Competitions and other mallers which will advance the interest of the Journal.

We particularly desire to ask our corresponnents to be brief and to the point in any communications they may send us for publication.

vVe are pleased to re cord the fact that we are already Teceiying a great accession of su pport from all parts of the country, and' as our space is somewhat limited, in dealing with reports of local meetings for presentation of certificates, &c., it would be better that a brief rep ort were written, giving a short resume of the variou points touched upon by the principal speakers, rather than that a lengthy newspaper report should be sent giving in detail the whole record of the meeting This report is doubtless interesting to local First-aiders, but it must be borne in mind that we a rc catering for the Ambulance and Fire Brigade world at large

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'VE call the attention of our numerous readers interested in the men of the S.J.A.B. and of the N.F.B.U., to the advertisement of Mr. C. Weston relating to the photograph of the memorial in the Priory Church of St. John to the men who have fallen in South Africa, erected by H. M. the King and the Chapter General of the Order of St. John The photograph is a genuine work of art irrespective of the sentiment attached to it, and doubtless many corps and divisions will desire to possess it to hang in their headquarters as a silent memento of the sel f denial of t h ose of their number who gave their lives in the service of t h eir country. Pro utildate /zomiJZlt11t.

FOR the fourth time, the pamphlet containing the address which Mr. Reginald Harrison, F.R.C.S., delivered in the presence of the Liverpool Medical Society in October, 1881, on "The Ambulance in Civil Life," has been reprinted, and copies of the issue should b e in the hands of all who are concerned in the rendering of what is felicitously known as "first aid." First aid has saved many a life. I n the simplest and most direct way, the author, who is amongst the most eminent surgeons of his time, lays down the modes which should be pursued in cases of sickness and personal injury.

WRITING to Mr. Harrison, Sir Wm. Mitchell Banks, whose reputation as a surgeon i;; world-wide, says :- " At the Royal Infirmary at present the police maintain a firstrate ambulance waggon and a man of the mounted police section to look after it. I t is ready for action in a few minutes. We, on the other hand, maintain a young surgeon, who is known as the casualty and am bulance surgeon, and who goes out with the ambulance waggon. The city is divided into distrirts, and the great hospitals are ready, by means of the police ambulances, to give help to injured people within an astonishingly brief space of time. No little credit for this splendid state of things is due to yourself, and it is a great pleasure to me, as one of your oldest friends, that your efforts in this public matter are still gratefully remembered by the city in which you spent the best years of your life." *

THE Dail) ) Telegraplt says ;-The Fire Brigade Committee of the London County Council have under consideration a number of suggestions from Capt. Wells, the chief of the brigade, relative to proposed alterations in the uniform of the men, and this apparently has led to some silly rumours. It will be remem bered that at the prolonged inquest on the victims of the Queen Victoria-street fire some of the witnesses suggested that the firemen were hampered in their work by their uniform, which was alleged to be too heavy and not conducive to personal smartness of action. This point has-in certain quarters-been seized upon as the text of Capt. Wells s recommendations and the crux of some supposed complaints by the firemen themselves as to their working dress, whereas from inquiries made from the authorities we find that such is not the case. Capt. 'Yells's recommendations are matters entirely of detail, the outcome of su ggestions made by the men under his command, and these are still under the consideration of the committee

To state that the Fire Brigade Committee do not approve of these recommendations is altogether beyond the mark

for no final decision has yet been arrived at; and another statement, to the effect that the men themselves have presented a petition to the London County Council on the subject, is equally wide of the mark, for there is the best authority for saying that no such petition has been forwarded, and that the men are quite content that their suggestions should be made through their chief officer in the ordinary manner. That the men should present a petition to the Council is in itself suggestive of a breach of' discipline and of disresp ec t to their chief, and there is no r eas on to suppose that such a condition of things exists

When the report of th e Fire Brigad e Committee is presented to th e Council it will show that th e committee, th e chief of the brigade, and th e m en have been acting in harmony in the matter.

St. John Ambulance Association.

BATLEV CARR. - On Sept. 2yd, Councillor G Bowd en presid e d at the annual meeting of this sEction of the S.J.A.A., in the Warwick-road Board School. Mr. M. Thompson (secretary) presented a report, showing that they comm e nced th e year with £3 lOS. in hand, and had received £15 ISS. and p aid £15 16s. 6d . A stre tcher had been obtained and paid for by fur.ds rais e d by means of a collection which the secretary had undertaken. There had been no classes during the pa st year, but a number of th e members had been re-examined and passed. Th e following were elected officers: President, Councillor Smith Ward ; vice-presidents, Councillor Bowden, Messrs. J. IV. C a rter, IV Webb, G. Smith, T Oldro yd , and S. Bentl ey; tr eas urer, Mr. Alfred Milnes; secretary, Mr. Mark Th o mpson.

MILToN.-The members of the St. John Ambulance on Tyesday evening, October 7th, presented Dr. th eIr hon . ec turer, with a silver syphon holder, lI:s c nbed : "Presented to Dr. Aspinall, in appreciation of hIs valuable services given to the St. John Ambulance cl.ass.es, 1902 ." After acknowledging the gift, Dr. Aspinall dlstnbuted the medals and certificates to the successful students

NELSO - The annual conference of the NO.4 (North W es tern Division) of the S.J.A.A. was held at Nelson on 20th, wh e n about 250 delegates of dIvISIons 111 Lanca shire and other counties a ttended and were received, on behalf of the Nelson Corporation, by the layor and 1ayoress of th e borough, Dr. and Mrs. J ack-

In his wel.come to th e d e lega t es, Dr. ] ackson, alludmg to the attractlOns of N elso n, sa id it was o n e of the most go-ahead towns in th e United Kingdom. It was also one of the cleanest towns in the kingdom. Th ey had the lowe st deat.h-rate of any town in Lancashire, a nd the lowest infantlle death-rate-the low es t number of deaths und e r one year of age to 1,000 births-o f any town in th e kingdom. They had k ep t pac e with th e ambulance movement.

Dr Tnmbl e, d e put y-Co mmission e r, in his annual r eport, said that a memb ership of 4, 182 in th e Notth DlvlslOn, ou.t of a total membership of about 10,000 10 the whole bngade. He claimed that the voluntary cha racter of the movement showed the deep in-

A I D.- October, 1902.

terest which the members took in it. A number of resol utions were passed dealing with details of ambu lance work and competitions, and the proceedings clos ed with a vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress, and to Dr. Trimble for pres iding. Subsequ ently th e delegates were entertained to tea by the Nelson co rps, and the evening was aft e rwards spent in a social manner.

NEWPORT (Mon.).-The massive silver challenge cup given by Sir Joseph L a wrence, M . P., was competed for on Thursday afternoon, October 9th, by ambulance teams resident in the borough at Tredegar-hall, Newport. The competition was witnessed by a large number of spectators, including Dr. Garrod Th o mas, J.p., the mayor, and other distingui shed p ersonag es Surgeon-major Hutton, of the J.A.A., acted as judge, th e competing t eams repr ese nting th e following :-2nd Volunteer Battalion South IVales Bordere rs, Poli ce, Boys' Brigade, AlexandraDocks employes, and th e Great West ern Railway (Dock-street) employes. The various t ea ms wer e put through all the principal movements appertaining to ambulance work, and the result o f th e competition was m ade known at a public m eet in g h e ld in the evening. Th e c up was awarded to th e Boys Brigade (No. Company) The Great 'Western Railway t ea m came second, and th e Alexandra D ocks next. Dr. Garrod Thomas, in a bri ef presidential address, said that the n ee d for ambulance work and firs[ aid was beco ming increasingly important in town and country through the spread of cycling and moto ring.

Sir Joseph Lawr e ncc, replying to a vote of thanks to Lady Lawrence for the distribution of silve r mcdals, touched upon the us e ful revival some 30 years ago b y th e Association and the goo d work don e by its originators at the Crusades, the Kni g hts of St. John.

P ADSTOW.-Th e ladi es' class was entertain cd at tea at the Institute on Tu es day, O c tober 7th, by Mrs G. M. Chapman, of Wimbled on, tr eas urer of th e Wimbl e don and Merton Division of the S.J.A.B Several methods of bandaging as used by her division, were explained by Mrs Chapman, who appeared in uniform, and practical hints were given as to ge n eral treatment. Mrs. Chapman also spoke as to the g rea wo rk of th e Association. Suggestions we re made as to th e formation of cl asses throu gh th e winter. Th e meeLing closed, on the proposition of Dr. Palk Griffin, with a h earty vote of thanks for Mrs. Chapman and great sympathy for the cause.

The men's fIrst aid class m e t on IiVe dn es day, October 8th, Dr. Griffin presiding, to consider the advisability of co ntinuin g th e class during the coming winter. The County Council Technical Education Committee wrote offering a grant to cove r the expenses of the m e n 's class, as well as th e ladies' class. It was unanimously reso lved to r e-o pen th e class, and Dr. Griffin was elected lec tur e r, and M1'. A. H. Y e lland was re-e lec t ed honorary secretary.

WE ST IIOU SES - On Saturday, October 4th, the annual m ceting of th e Westhouses Ambulance Corps was h e ld in th e Institute. Mr. F. Shaw presided. The follow ing officials were elected for the e nsuing year :-President and treasurer, Mr. J. F. Shaw; vice-president, Mr. J. Brookes; sec.retary,. Mr. T. Bacon; instructor, Mr. W Hardwick; assistant ll1structor, Mr. T. Miller.

October, 1902. -F I RST Our Portrait Gallery.

TI:IE LAT1£ SERGT. W. S. IND ER, KENDAL DI VISlOX S.J.A.B. (By One TVlzo Serv ed TV/tit H im.)

Ix response to an appeal from th e War Offi ce in Novemb e r, 1899, the subject of our slc e tch was one of th e fir s t to voluntcer for active se rvi ce in South Africa. Early in D ecember, 1899, lnde r, with mcmbers fr om Blackpool, Preston, Bamb e r Bridge, Accrington and other p laces , together with his comrade, Sergt. Hun ter, from Kendal, wcre the first members of th e S.J.A.B. to land in South Africa.

From the transport ship Simla they were dispatched to No. 2 General Hospital, Wynberg, and the day after

only by visits from Lords Roberts and Kitchener, a nd Sir W. on Janu ary 12 th, and Rudyard Kipling, with his cheering presence, on February 21.

,Yith increased helpers fr om home, the hours of duty fell to 36 in ..j.8hours, and soon after to stilllessj and the high pressure in connect ion with enteric being now ( :\Iay, 1900) und er co ntr ol, several of the draft left in the Aurania with n15 in val ids for home.

After a brief visit to K e nd al, Sergt. Ind er, with his co mrad e, Sergt. Hunter, helped to form in Aldershot thf' I3th General H ospital, which embarked on the Saxon in Jun e Shortly after landing in CapeTown the party to ok over one hospital at W ynberg holding 1,150 patients, and up to March, 1901, thousands o f the sick and wounded passed th rou gh th eir hands recovered, or safely on the road to good health and strength

'Vriting home, Sergeant ln der SlYS: " H e re at 'Vynb erg I lost several of my ow n comrades, and a nd helped to raise memorial stones on their grave. In nearly every case Hunter and I gathered the beautiful lilies, a ncl t h e nurses kindly made them into memorial wreaths."

In May, 190J, Sergt. Ind er was appointed Ward master of the Medical Division, and continued to act in that capacity until he joined the Imp erial :Military Railway at J ohannesburg, from which place he was sent to responsible duty a t Bloemfontein.

The news of his death there on the 7th J anuary last came as a surprise; for on the very train from which h e was carr ed to the ational H ospital, he had written a descriptive letter full of vivid sketches and healthy life.

Whilst returning on duty from Yiljoen 's Drift he cau ght a chi ll and in spite of the sp lend id nur si n g of the matron and he passed away peacefully in the presence of his uroLher, H. E. lnd er, who had hImself already done good work in the S.J."\.B. at Middleburg, Pretoria, and places. Sergt. Inder was buried in the Bloemfontein old cemetery, amongst the bearers being Sergt. H. Turner, S.J.A.B., Private lorton Woolley and two other Kendalians.

1\11'. lnd er's letters from the front to th e f Test more!alld Ga ze tte and other lo cal paper and magazines had a wide and int er ested circle of readers

joining go t up marquees and everythi n g necessary th c re(: e ption of th e wound ed. He wrote: "At noon, without dinn e r, we brought in fro m the train eighty wound e d m e n of the Highland Brigade . Th ese poor wer e wounded at Magersfont ei n and the Modd er RlV er. :YIo st of th e m were stern -lo oking, bearded warriors, with egs, a rms a nd h eads covered with blood. I had to sit up with six m e n with h eads, fc;ct and arms s h ot, still carrying the bull e ts ."

In 5 a nd 6 S urgical Division for afte.r did he brav ely do his special ward duty. H e mentlOned 111 one of his le tters :-" On Christmas ni ght I c h eered my wounded patient up to a smile by telling him he would be better in th e morning. For an bour a nd a lla l f stoo.d th e rc ing his hand, wh e n quite sudClenly hIS qUlck breathll1g seemed easier and h e quietly passed away. II e was go n e, and I was with th e d ead; th e n I br ok e down." "IIelpless patients wo uld ask m e to writ e h o m e for them. ',Yhat shall I say?' 'You lmow what to t e ll them best, orderly " Th e arduous duties of th e hospital, with but four hours sleep every two nights, were continued for wecks, vari ed

By th e authorities at St. John's Gate Sergt. lnd er is a lw ays spoken of as a keen and. capable ambrula?ce mat:, and 11 e was deservedly pop ular With all the stair; mdeed It may truthfully be said he was popular all with whom he came in c:ontact. Kind, sympathetIc, and as gentle as a chil d his was a lovable nature, and one can realise that it is m en as be th at made the St. John r\mbulan ce man so much loved in South Africa.

T he Royal P ro g ress and the "First Aid" Welcome Club.

SE\'ER ,\L subscr ibers ba\'e writt en to us to enquire if arrangements th at wc made for a '" \ Te1come JClu b . 111 Jun e last, for the members o n duty for the Royal I thr o u crh the South of London, hold for October 2.)th. IV e r:gre t to say they do n ot. Imm edw.tely knew the elate was fixed \\'e at (lnce decided to agam make a r e nd ezvous for a ll on duty 011 that but, alas, the bu:1d. s let a nd we could n ot obtam the loan of another mg wa , d . d suitable place ,Ye regret th is as we should h ave eSll".e once more to s how in a tan g ibl e our yl11pathy With th e objects that this Journ a l so cons iste ntly advocates.

I RST Railway Ambulance.

RAILWAY - The annual competition for the Cam RaIlways Challenge Shield, presented by :Mrs. c. S. Denl1lss and Mrs. ] . Parry-Jones, took place by the kindness, of the Earl and Countess of Powis, at Powis Castle, on September 16th.

The competition was confined to teams of five representing the various Ambulance Classes affiliated the Railways Centre of the St. John Ambulance ASsocJatIOn. Seven teams, including last year's champions -Oswestry "Works team-competed in the following orde: :-Oswestry Works, Machynlleth, Port madoc, Llamdloes, Aberystwyth, Oswestry Traffic, and Welsh pool. Surgeon-Lieut.-Colonel Cureton, of Shrewsbury, acted as Judge, and the arrangements in connection with the coo:petition were carried out in a manner worthy of all praIse by Mr. J. D. Andrew, the Centre Secretary.

whIch was conducted under condItIOns SImIlar to those adopted for the Railway ShIeld Competition of the S.J.A.A., was witnessed by Lord and Lady l)owis, Mr. A. C. Humphreys-Owen, M.P , Chairman of the Cam brian Railways Company, Mrs. and the Misses HumphreysOwen, Mr. J. Marshall Dugdale, a director of the Company, Mr. C. S. Denniss, (Secretary and General Manager) and Mrs Denniss and others.

I nvitations were also issued to those servants of the Company who were Certificated Members of the Ambulance Classes throughout the system, with their wives be in g kmdly provided for

A I D.- October, 19 0 2

Parry-J ones She felt confident it must be a source of very great satisfaction to the Oswestry Traffic Team to have won such a handsome prize.

Mr. Jones having suitably replied, the members of the successfu l team stepped forward and bore the shield away amid loud cheering.

Mr. Hum phreys-Owen said that again, on behalf of the he begged to move that the best thanks of the be Lord and Lady Powis for their kllldness In entertal11l11g them there that day.

Mr. Dulston, of Llanidloes, said it gave him sincere t? second the mot ion so ably hy The motion, needless to add, was carned WIth acclamation.

Powis, in reply, it had given Lady I)owis and hImself the greatest possIble pleasure to welcome them all there day, and their sincerest hope was that they had enjoyed themselves The exhibition which the teams. had certainly proved most mstructIve, and hIS lordshIp belIeved all who had witnessed it . had thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Other votes followed.

Mr. Denniss hav1l1g announced that Mr. "\V. H. Gough, Mr. Herbert Jones, and Mr. Collin had promised to present each mem ber of the winning team with a silve: medal, the proceedmgs terminated, and the party separated .

Report of SUrf(eOll Lieut. - Colonel <Edward Cureto71:-I wish to report as follows on. the Challenge ShIeld Competition:

(1) A marked improvement on last year's work; (2) an intelligent grasp of the and a lively mterest shown by all.

1.

them at stated intervals during the day. The beautiful gf and of Castle were also thrown open or the l11SpectlOn and enjoyment of visitors.

I The competition began at o'clock and continued C ong after 5 p. m., when the party met on the steps of the astle to hear the Referee's award, which was as follows :1st, Traffic, 253 points; 2nd, Oswestry Works, 25 1 ,3 rd , lortmadoc, 235; 4th, Llanidloes, 161; 5th, Mach) nlleth, 157; 6th, Aberystwyth, 147; 7th, Welshpool, 127 The company present having been photographed by Mr. E. W. Aston

M.r. 'M P., said on behalf ot the Cambnan Ratlways Centre of the S J A A h h d h P I k' ., e a muc 111 as the Countess of Powis to present the s lIe to the wlllmng team.

Lady Powis, addressing Mr. D. Jones-the ca tain of the successful team-said it gave her the greatest Possible to ,hand the the beautiful shield pfesented o t e entre by the londness of Mrs. Denniss and Mrs.

PllOtoh), E. ITr.AstOIl, Oswest7')I. Details - Crziz"cz'sms : (1) Strdclzer JIVork.- The usua l m.istake of the wrong side of the body was ThIS work varied very much, one domg up the supposed injury in an excellent manner, while another placed a tourniquet on the femoral vein Most of the teams forgot arrest bleeding from the lacerated wound of knee Jomt; O.nly one team" treated the very considerable ShOCK whIch present, and, I believe, no team made a show of cleansmg the wound . The Stretcher work was g.ood, and carefu lly done, and the time occupIed m treatmg the injury was good, and faster than last year. I was sorry to find nearly all the teams forgot to put a b.ack splmt to the knee-joint injured.

(2/ I1ijltrzes.-Here again the digital pressure for ImmedIate arrest of hcemorrhage was forgotten by several and not too promptly applied by others. The fractured elbow was put up wrong by nearly all, and the angular splint on t.he wrong side the elbow (this is the only sUltable Spllllt). The shock m all these injuries was un-

O ctober 1902 -F

I RST

treated, and son:e patients with terrible injuries were allowed to remall1 standmg up when supposed to be in a collapsed state.

.(3) Questions . - The vital importance of fmt aid was to be. brought out here, as the prompt emetic for pOlso mng, the lIgat,ure round the wrist for dog bite, and suckmg of the pOIson from the snake bite, which was gIven more or less loosely by alL The teams must look up the distinguishing features of poisoning from opium, and apoplexy

(4) fair-some very good 1 he case of artIfiCIal resplratlOn from suffocation should always be removed from where' found before the first aider to perform arti5.cial respiration; this can only be of serVIce when surrounded by pure air. The hands, in making hand seats, were not al\\"ays properly clasped, and in the four-handed seats the hands were grasping another far too close together to be able to carry a patIent and .would be followed by cramp.

In concluslOn, I WIsh to congratulate the teams generally on a fair .show, and also tender them my best thanks for theIr patIence, and for trying their best to win the splendid shield and thus become such useful members 111 an emergency.

BATH.-On Saturday afternoon, the 4th inst., one of the rooms at th.e Midland and S. and D. joint railway statlOn was fdled Wlth members of the M.R. Division ot the SJA.B., the occasion being the presentation of medalllons and certIficates gained at the recent examinatiun conducted by Dr. J. Griffiths, of Bristol.

Mr. H. L. Bailey, the master, presided, and amongst others who attended were Dr. J. "\Vigmore, hon. surgeon; Supt. F. G. Warwick, 1st officer R J. Woodward

Mr. F. Sprawson, secretary of the Bath Centre, S.J.A.A.:

Mr. G. Jones, locomotive superintendent, and others.

J. Langsfield Esq., Hon. Associate of the Order of St. John, presented the medallions and certificates to members, and in doing so, said it gave him great pleasure to attend thel:e that afternoon. He had seen in a report recent.ly publIshed that 1,300 deaths took place in one year un raIlway property from accidents, which showed how essential it was that railway servants should know how to render first aid. In England they had half-a-million railway men, or an accident on an average for one man in every thirty, to deal with. He hoped the men would contll1ue to take an interest in the work which they had begun. He was glad to read that the directors of the Midland Railway were taking an enthusiastic interest in the ambulanr.e work of their employes. The speaker alluded to the me? of the brigade who had served their country in South Afnca, and hoped that such unselflshness would prevail at home in the deepening of the interests in the work of the S.J.A.B.

The Chairman spoke of the interest which Dr. "\Vigmore had taken in the division and of the gratitude of its members There was no doubt the success of the examinations was by no means small, and much of the credit was due to the attention Dr. IVigmore had given to the work it was the unanimous desire of the members tu make some present in acknowledgment of these services, and he would ask Dr. Wigmore to accept a silver inkstand, which bore the inscription, "Presented to Dr. J. Wigmore by members of the Midland and S. and D.R. (Bath) Division, S.J.A.B., October, 19°2." He said he had another pleasing duty to perform. The members were gra.teful to Supt. \ Varwick for the assistance he had afforded them. He had been the mean s o f keep i ng the men togethe r more th:l11 anyone else,

AID.- 53

both. the old and the more recent. The men apthe tllne and trouble Mr. "Warwick had taken, and to hIS always ready manner. He asked 11r. Warwick's acceptance of a silver cigarette case.

Dr. Wigmore and 11r. Warwick suitably replied thankmg the members for their kind presents.

A vote of was passed to J. Langfield Ward, Esq., for presentmg the certIficates and medallions.

.GOULBURN (Sydney).-At a meeting on Saturday Septe.mber 13th, the Commissioners' Challenge Shleld, won thIS by the Goulburn Railway Ambulance Squad, was, receIved. Memb.ers of the squad were wlth small gold repllcas of the shield. The pnzes ,von during the year by members of the Railway Ambulance Rifle Club were also presented.

PERTII - The Caledonian Ambulance Corps and the J oint Ambulance Corps have agreed to amalgamate and WIll now be known as the Perth Railway Ambulance Corps.

24th Sir George Cotton, the candldate for Accrington, opened a bazaar m aid of the local ambulance corps. Reference was made to the corps having spent £2,000 in providing and equipping the town with an ambulan ::: e hall, and to the further fact that elson sent 3 [ members of the local ambulance corps for service in the South African war.

SHEFFIELD.-There was a very poor attendance of members at the Second Annual Parade ot the Sheffield Corps of the S.lA.R at the Artillery Drill Hall, on Saturday, September 27th, and _\.ssistant Commissioner Malkin, the inspecting officer, commented very strongly on this fact in his address to the men, and urged upon them the vital importance of attending this inspection.

Out of a strength of q8 only 76 men appeared on parade. In all other respects, however, the corps came off splendidly. The men were put through various evolutions by the Chief-Supt., Sergt.- ifajor, and the N.C. Officers, the work being performed with precision and smartness. Especially creditable and workmanlike was the exhibition of stretcher work given. The Non-Com. Officers were rigorously examined in ambulance work by the In "pecting Officer, who expressed himself highly pleased with the work that had been done. He was especially delighted witb the manner in which the books and the stores were kept.

It must be stated that no pecuniary disadvantages will accrue through the non-attenda'1ce of such a large portion of the men, as the corps receives no grant from the Government. From a moral standpoint, however, the smallness of attendance at th:lt inspection was very disappointing. The financial position of the corps was stated to be satisfactory, though, of course, subscriptions to carryon their useful and self·denying work are always necessary.

After the inspection an interesting function took place; this was the presentation of a household clock to Sergt.-Major Webb by the members of the Tinsley Nursing Cla s, of which he was instructOr. This very interesting ceremony was performed by Ambulance Officer Lamb, after wbich ergt.-l\[ajor Webb duly acknowledged the honour done him that evening, and tendered his hearty thanks in a s oldierly speech, in which he gave interesting ad vice and instruction to the men.

OSWESTRY TR.-\.FFIC TEAM, IVI NERS (1902) RAILWAY CHALLENGE SHIELD.

DR. BERESFORD, T. EYANS, F . A. E. S. EVA-:\S T C A IJ o .lJlstrllc/or. ." L J)SON, E 11 C ' Hon. Secreta?,)'

ORI·IELD Challenge Shield, D, JO rES, Captain.

-FIRST

S t . Joh n Am bu l ance B r iga de. CORPS.

Thursday night, October 2nd, at the meetm g of th e Hampstead Borough Council, the Baths and \Vashhous es CommIttee reported that they had instructed the Town Clerk to communicate with Councillor E. H. Evans, superintendent of the Hampstead Division of the S.].A.B., with a view to instruction in first-aid being given to the whole of the staff at the baths. This action was approved.

AI D.- October, 1902.

grounds at the disposal of the superintendent and officers of the Bristol Corps on Saturday afternoon, September 20th, and a brge number of prominent local residents accepted the invitation sent out, those present including the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and the Hiah Sheriff.

'I:>

l'vir. and Mrs. Calvert Fisher gave a warm welcome to the company and kindly provided tea.

October,

19 02 -FIRST

HAND s woRTH.-At a meeting of the Handsworth Corps, held on Tuesday, Oct. 7th, it was decided to present Mr. Holland, late secretary to the Brigade Committee, with a service medal in recognition of his valuable help. Dr. . Scott Wilson has consented to take th e examination in connection with the "Bayley L ees" Cup Competition

A I D.- 55

Assistant-Commissioner \Voolston moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor for his hospitality. Dr. Pope seconded.

MERTON AND WIl\l13LEDoN.-In

aid of the funds of this D!Yision, a grand evening concert was given at the 1asol1lc Hali, on Wednesday, October 8th, and the room well an audience. During an mterval, irs. C. fyrrell Gtles presented a considerable number of certificates and medallions to successful members

Mr. C. Tyrrell q-iles, J.p., made a brief speech, whIch he exp ress ed hIS great pleasure at being present to learn more excellent work carried on by that very successful dIVISIOn, to whose roll he was pleased to add his daughte(s name as hon. member. The venture "vas a success 111 every way,. and reflected much credit upon Dr. Hargreaves, Mrs. TImpson, Mr. C. H. Darker and all concerned.

PROVINCIAL CORPS.

This division was inspected by Asslst.ant-CommlssIOner T. H. Woolston (No. 3 District) on Fnday, September 26th at the Market-hall, kindly lent t.he occaSIOn by the Urban District Council. The was put through bearer, company, and hand-seat dnll, by Supt. C. E. Baxter, after which the inspecting officer remarked that he was very glad to say that he should be able, to. that they had greatly improved since last year. 1 h.elf. dnll hU.d been. carried out in a way that was both a to s uperIntendent and to themselves. He also adVised the dIVISIon to a carrying-sheet, which they WOUld. find ,:ery useful m carrying patients up or down staIrs and lrftll1g them off and on the stretcher' and but not least? he urged the men to try and get the ul1lform of the brIgade.

Fiyst,-aid certificates were then presented by AssistantCommIssIoner \Voolston to several members.

BLA.cKPOOL. - A remarkable success was won by the ladles of the Blackpool Nursing Division on September 27th: They won the Challen e competed for at Accnngton .by. the Ladies' N DIVISIOns of the orth-Western Dlstnct. The shield was o,ffered for th e first time on Saturday The 'ud es \\,e re Dr. R o.bb ( elson) and Dr. O ldham (Moreclmbge)

!- he fo.llowmg ladi es , who were stricti' 111 nursll1g, formed the winning Blackpool te Mrs V 1 O. am. lln e, lady supenntendent · Misses Gertrude B. Brown, Amy A. Mewis Jan e I 'TI M H HI' 1exton, ary f' art. Mo?re, and Emily Hides. The shield is one o. fine artIstiC deSI g n, and it formed a handsome silver plate on ebony, 30 in. long and 18 in broad The centre piece represents two nurses binding rna " wounded arm. n s

BRI STOL.- Mr. and Mrs Cal.vert Fisher, of Redland Lodge, Durham Down, placed their residence and beautiful

Mrs. Charles Hayman's arrangement of the musical programme a very happy one, as she was able to secure the serVIces of such a cultured vocalist as Miss Bingham Hall College of This young artist has a ",.ell-tra111ed contralto VOIce, and charmed the company WIth several songs, which were rendered with remarkable and precision. Her brother also sang in a pleaSing manner, and Mr. Clune played selections by Paderewski.

Dr. Charles. Hay man (the superintendent of the BrIstol corps) preSIde d, and gave an interesting account of the work.

The Lord Mayor said that he felt it his duty to attend and do what b e co.uld t.o h.elp Dr. Charles Hayman and those connected With hun In the very laudable desire to make th e corps. thoroughly efficient. He thought a great many dId not rea hse the splendid work the brigade was dOing thr?ugh?ut th e country. He (the speaker) was not aware until qUite recently. th at the brigade was doing such an work- the Importance of which could not be over-estImated. In Bristol many noble institutions were supported, and h e thought th e S.l.A. B, should also receive substantlal support from the citizens in view of the excellent WOl k tl: ey were d?in g for suffering humanit y.

HIS LordshIp .th e n personally distributed collecting cards, many la dles present promised their assistance.

AdmIral Close moved that the best thanks of the given to Mr. and Mrs. Calvert Fisher f0r their kind hospItality.

. Dr. Griffiths (assistan.t commissioner), in seco nding, absence of hIS chtef (Dr. Vernon) owing to ll1dl.SpositIon . Mon ey was, he said, snrely ne eded for the eqUlpment of the corps. Th ey had been working in Bristol for some years, and their frien?s had been very good to them, what the y reqUlr ed was more support the cItlzens generally. They looked upon that as a valuable adjunct to the existing medical institutIOns of the city. Their greatest ne ed was a proper method of ambulance transport. He included in the vote of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress and the High Shenff.

the close of the meeting, the mem bers, under the dIrectIOn of Dr. Charles Hayman and the other officers of corps,. carriE:ld out several interesting movements, the chIef of whIch was a demonstration in first aid.

a meeting of th e Bradford Corps of the SJA.B., held 111 the Co-operative Society'S Rooms, Sunbndge-road, on Octob e r 1St, Mr. W. Firth, secretary of the Bradford City Police Ambulance Department, on behalf of the Mayor (Mr. W. C. Lupton), presented medals to the members of the corps who had been on active the Co.ronation festivities in Bradford. Mr.W Fleming, superintendent of the corps, introduced the new hon : !)r. Percy Lodge. Dr. Lodge addressed th e mee t1l1g, testJ[YIng .to his admiration of thc good work dO!1 e by the corps durmg the Coronation festivities. He pald a. warm tribute to Dr. Andrew Browne, whose colleague 111 ambulance work he had now become and who he regretted was unable, through illness, to be present.

LEICESTER - The Victoria Park was on Saturday, Oct. I th, the scene of the annual inspection of th e Leicester Corps of the S J.A.B. The inspecting officer was Brigade-Surgeon Lieut.-Col. G. S. Elliston, V.D , deputycommissioner NO.3 (Central and Eastern) District. Shortly after three o'clock the members of the various divisions paraded in the Magazine-square. There was a strong must er of men forming the corps, the Town, Working M en 's College, Y.11.C.A Cyclist, Wheatsheaf, L. and I.W.R., Wigston, \Vigston Midland Railway, arborough, and Banyell, and the nursing divisions being represented.

The men subsequently marched to the Victoria Park, where the inspection took place. The total on parade numbered about 250. The nursing division, comprising 26 sisters ?-nd their officers, in charge of Lady Supt. Miss Margaret Noble, formed an important feature, their neat uniforms attracting considerable attention. A general inspection of lines, fi eld hospital, and tent equipment, was follow ed by a demonstration of first aid, includin g bandaging and stretcher drill work.

Unfortunately, the weather ,vas hardly favourable for any outdoor inspection, and owing to the cold east wind which swept acrosS the park the evolutions had to be somewh a t hurriedly performed. At the close of the inspection the men were drawn up in a square, and addressed by th e Deputy -Co mmissioner.

Colonel Elliston said he was very pleased to again have the opportunity of conducting their annual inspection. He was pleased t o say that the drill was excellent, and he thought if they went on practising th ey would eventually be quite equal to a bearer company. A fea ture of the inspection had be e n the smartness shown by the nursing division. He must compliment them on their work. The c0rps had shown up well in the war, having despatcbed 59 men to the front. He hoped this would be an encouragement to others to mak e themselves efficient members of th e brigade.

Supt. Kil!g then called for thre e cheers for Col. Elliston and his staff, a most hearty res ponse being given.

The men afterwards marched back to the town, wh ere they were entertained to tea by the Mayor in the Museum Buildings.

The Mayor, on rising after tea to welcome the guests, said it gave him a great amount of pleasure to welcome so many of the workers in that grand undertaking, institut ed for the relief of human suffering. He thought the public owed the rnembers of the brigade a deep debt of gratitude for having devoted their leisur e to a training which would fit th e m to deal with accidents and any case of emergency.

Col. Elliston, in replying to the toast of the "St. John Ambulance Brigade," said he was proud to be in charge of that important district. The work of national importance wbich the brigade accomplished during the late war alone entitled them to the gratitude of the whole nation, and he thought they all felt a head and shoulders taller this year than they did before the war commenced. He was glad they were going to try and raise i., 500 on of the brigade. That would be a great h e lp towards gettmg the 111 em b ers into uniform. Considering the resources of Leicester, he did not think there ought to be any difficulty in realising that amount.

The resolution having been heartily acceded to, the Mayo r made a brief reply. He sincerely hoped that what had been said about the £500 and the n ecessary equipment would soon be forthcoming. He had only one more word to add . If the executive would the ambulance 'vaggon and send the bill to him, he (the Mayor) would pay for it.

This announcement was rec e ived with prolonged cheering. A concert was subsequently gone through and was much appreciated.

RAD sTocK - Official notificat io n has just been received that the Radstock Division has been duly form ed, and is incorporat ed in th e No. 2 (Southern and Western ) District, under th e con trol of deput y-commiss ioner Dr. Vernon, of ,Veston-Sup e r- Mare.

The original enrolment consists of Dr. R G. Werger, M.RC.S., L.RC.P., L.S.A., L eigh House, as hon. surgeon; Rev. T. J. C. Gardner (Rector), hon. tre as ur er S. Ll oyd Harvey, hon. secretary and acting officer in charge G. H. Street, as han. inspector of stores . Sergt. C. Uphill, G2 Co. ISt Batt. S L.!., has kindly given hi s val uable services as instructor of the division in the new (190 2) sq uad infantr y drill, and those members who have attended the several drills have progressed wonderfully under his tuition.

The National School Committee has very genero usl y and gratuitously placed one of their play-yards at th e disposal of th e division for practices, &c., and it has been arranged to have a drill there, weather permitting, every \Vednesday evening.

For the present members will only be denoted by th e brigade badge, Dearing the word Radsto ck undern eath, worn on the right arm, but if at th e end (If six months or so the then evidence of vitality in the division warrants so an appeal will be made to the public for funds provide the necessary equipment of stretchers, first aId cases, uniform, &c. The m e mbers WIll be to turn out for public duty when so warned by officer 111 acting under instructions the the diStrict but such memb ers WIll act mdIvldually m case of need, as heretofore .' Memb ers will be required to submit to an exam1l1.atlOn in first aid, and an inspection in squad infantry and brIgade stretcher drill on-enrolledannually.holders of the Association First-Aid Certificates desiring to do so may be placed on the reserve list of the division.

ROYT ON .-i \ social gathering was h eld evening, October 4th, at th e Roy ton Conservative 111 connection with the Roy ton Ambulance AssocmtlOn. Councillor John Stansfield, superintendent of the corps, presided. 'There about I?O persons present. Singing and dancing were mdulged m.

WALTON-LE-DALE. - Mr. T. Higginson, superintel!dent of the Walton-Ie-Dale Division of the S J. A. B., has re.slgned that position. Mr. has connected With brigade 17 years, dunng seven of whIch he has occupIed the position of superintendent. He has always shown a keen interest in ambulance work, has ?ead ed a which in point of numbers and efficlel!cy Will compare WIth any in a similar township No app01l1tment to th e vaca nt office has yet been made.

FIRST AID

OCTOflER 20, 1902

I T is now some weeks smce the The Colon ial Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Non =reco g nition JOSEPH CHAIIIBERLAIN, presented of the medals to the members of the Ambulance Birmingham Corps of the S.J.A.B., Brigade. and paid that organisation the highest compliment that it has yet received. Since that date am bulance men have looked for some pronouncement as to their King and Country's recognition of the splendid voluntary service performed by upwards of 2,000 of their number in the time of their country's need, and keen disappointment is not unnaturally felt at this continued non-recognitlOn. I t is an admitted fact that at the outset of the South African War the Royal Army Medical Corps was in a condition totally inadequate to meet the demands made upon it for drafts for service at the front, and in their dire extremity the authorities at the War Office had to look to those volunteer organisations in the country which for years past had been quietly, but systematically, instructing numbers of men and women who might, at a moment of great national emergency, be found of the greatest possible value to the authorities. For some years past now the S.J.A.A. have enrolled both men and women for service in time of peace for work in connection with large public gatherings; but they go one step further; each member on enrolment is asked as to his or her willingness to serve in the British hospitals at home or abroad in event of a national emergency Years ago this request was regarded as an almost unnecessary clause, and an obligation which none of its members would ever be likely to be called upon to fulfil; but it is ofttimes the unexpected that happens, and it speaks volumes for the admirab le administrative work carried on by the Association that, immediately the first request was made for assistance, the society was in a position to at once comply with the demand, and also to regularly supply the contin ued demand made by the War Office Authorities

No doubt splendid service was rendered by other organisat ions, founded in order to assist the Medical Department-notably by the I mperial Yeomanry Hospital, the Langman Hospital, the Mosely Hospital, and the two hospitals formed by Our cousins across the water, viz., the Var.. Alen Hospital and the hospital ship, "The Maine " But we believe we are correct in stating that in all these latter instances the promoters, or others connected with them, have receive d recognit ion; whi lst the

S.J .A.B ., which even 10 the case of these hospital units, fo und the majority of the working staff, IS still unrecognised . I s it to be wondered at, there fore, that the members of the brigade are showing a tendency to lukewarmness ? Had it been honoured in the person of its head, every member would have felt that a compliment had been paid to each and every member who vol untarily fo rsook home and other ties to assist the Empire

We, in common with others interested in the ambulance cause, appreciate and thank tIle Colonial Secretary for the splendid compliment he paid the brigade for the part it had taken in the late campaign, but we do trust that some tangible recognition may mark the appreciation of an organisation to which the country and, indeed, the whole Empire, owes so much.

St. Andrew's Ambulance Association.

THE 19th annual report of the St. Andrew]s Ambulance Association contains some interesting information . The num ber of calls made on the wagons of the Association during the year amounted to 5,956, and the total number of patients conveyed since the formation of the Association is now 52,036. The number of calls made in Glasgow was 3,703, being an increase of 479 on last year. This represents an average daily turnout of 10'15. Certificates of proficiency were issued during the year as follows :-

First Aid Certificates, 2,75 I; Nursing Certificates, 14 2 Total, 2,893. This brings up the grand total since the formation of the Association to 54,005. Medallions, which are issued to those certificated pupils who attend a second course of lectures and pass an examination in First Aid in a different session were awarded to the number of 978, making the grand total 14,5 08

The Council .desires to place on record its appreof the serVIces rendered to the Association by the medIcal men who have - at considerable trouble to themselves-lectured to and examined the classes. It the position which the Association now occupies IS due In no small degree to their help. It also tenders its thanks to the Honorary Secretaries of the local Comand to the ladies, who have given much of their tlme .the task of collecting subscriptions in aid of the AssoClatlOn. It also cordially thanks all subscribers for their liberality to an institution which were it not now in existence, would be felt a want in the Association is mainly supported by voluntary and to .carry on the work, which is steadily 10 creasIng, the Councli appeals to the public for additional subscriptions.

Our Competition.

WE the entries for our competition, "Shall we MumcIpahse our Ambulance Service?" early in November. We have received but few entries up to date, but we trust that some more of our readers will yet enter. For further particulars see our Ju ly iss u e.

October, 1902 -FIRST

AI D.- 57

Committee accorded to Dr. Phillips for instructing the Hove Borough Police in First Aid.

National Pire Brigades Union.

Dr. IV. Ettles' "First Aid in the Fire Service" is now in the printer's hands and will shortly be published by the Ambulance Department. It is the only complete } irst Aid Manual published in the fire service and can be strongly recommended. It is profusely illustrated and no fireman should be without it.

WIDOWS' ORPHAN AND BENEVOLENT FUND.-The financial year will close in ber and it is m.ost ant that subscriptions and donatlOns should arrIve early In time to be published in the report. The Govern?rs sincerely trust that every to th? Umon will make a special effort to contnbute thIS CoronatlOn year.

The Hon. Gen. Sec. has received a cheque from the treasurer of the Hampton meeti ng for £ 107 I6s. Sd. to the funds of the above. This is the largest amount collected by any brigade or town in .England, the Governors trust that other brigades WIll follow thIS good example. \iVe congratulate Capt. Graham on his good work

SOUTH-EASTERN DIS1R1CT. - As a result of the call in connection with the voluntary Death Levy Fund for the benefit of the survivors of the late Fireman George IV A. \Vood of the lVIilton Fire Brigade, who died from tuberculosis ;n the 20th June, 1902, leaving a widow and six children, the whole of the brigades in the district have responded to the call with the result that the sum of £24 I2S has been handed over. \V e congratulate Capt. Hedley Peters on the result. It is gratifying to know that the whole of the brigades incorporated have responded to the appeal. It proves the strong bond that exists between all members of the service. This is a voluntary movement that, we think, might well be extended to the sister Ambulance Brigade. Is there not some enthusIastIc member of the latter body that will take the matter in hand work it up - put it on the market, to use a term? It lS a subject that might well be discussed at Conference. N" ow then, wake up, you Kentlsh dlvlslOns, and promote the idea.

Police Ambulance.

HOVE (Sussex).--At a meeting of the Watch Committee on September 24th the Chief Constable of Hove (Major Teevan) submitted a list of the who were in attendance at the July exam1OatlOn In first aid . The Surgeon-Instructor had promised. to attend the presentation of The result, ViZ., 16 passes, including one Asslstant Samtary out of a class of 22 men it was respectfully submItted, reflected much credit Dr. L. W. K. Phillips, who must obviously have devoted much time and ability to the subject.

Medallions and certificates were presented to the successful candidates, and the best thanks of the Watch

In moving the proceedings, Alderman Isger called attention to the efficiency of the Hove Volice in First Aid treatment; and Councillor Leeney said the ratepayers ought to be indebted to Dr. Phillips for the great care and attention he gave to the instruction of the police force in this matter. The examination got stiffer every year, and the police did know something about rendering First Aid in the cases of accident or injury.-The motion was approved.

MA CHESTER.-Ambulance work was first taken up by the City Police Force in 1888, and so great has been its progress since that time that no fewer than 893 members of the force possess the certificates of the S.J.A.A. These may be divided into three classes-those who have only reached the standard meriting the first certificate; those who have passed the second stage and received the second certificate; and those who have completed the three years' course and gained the medallion. The latter class numbers 173 men, and one member from each division is selected from them to conduct the policemen-students through the second and third year courses. For the first year the rules of the Association were complied with and instruction is received from medical gentlemen.

On Thursday, Octob er loth, at the Town Hall, the Lord Mayor (Alderman Hoy) distributed certificates and medallions to 359 police constables. There were also present Alderman Rawson, chairman of the Watch Committee, and several other members.

The Chief Constable ()'Ir. R. Peacock) presented a report upon the progress of the work since first taken up. IVithin two years from the begml1lng, the report stated, near! y one-h alf of the force qualified for the first certificate. This was considered so satisfactory that the \\'atch Committee instituted an organised system of instruction This has been continued up to the present time with the result that very few men have not obtained a certificate. In 1899 the Watch Committee decided to present a bronze. medallion. to those passing. the thi.rd course. At that tIme only eIght men were entItled to It; now J 73 possess that badge of efficiency. During the past five years, the report continued, 1I,.pO p,ersons had received first aid at the hands of the polIce - some havina sustained accidents in the public streets and others been taken suddenly ill; and .during the same period sixty-three persons who had b.een 10 danger of death in the streets would probably ha\"e died but for the prompt action of the police.

A reference was also made to the value of the Horse Ambulance Service, " hich now consisted of four horse ambulances. Since its establishment it had removed something like 120 cases a month.

The Lord Mayor, prior to the presentatllJn, referred .to the value of this training in Ambulance work to the and to the men themselves In regard to the former, It was one way of making them feel the police were their friends and he hoped that the growth of confidence the police and public conti?ue. the congested crossings of our streets, hIS lordshlp contll1ued, people wanted takin&" care. of, and he thougnt Manchester City PolIce mIght take an example 10 that respect from police in. Manchester was fast losmg her prov1l1cml positlOn, and many people visited the City who did not know their way about.

ASK YOUR NEWSAGENT TO SUPPLY " FIRST AID " EVERY MONTH.

SPECIALLY CONTRIBUTED

The British Fire Service. *

By T. G. DVSO T Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade, TViJzdsor Me1rtber if tlze Executive of th e Graud Intenzational C07t1lCi! of Fire Brigades, the Jlla/ional Fire Unio!?, alld tlze British Fire Preven tion Committee j J!lember of tlze London Clzalllber of Commerce Fire Protection Com-

mittee, a!?d j lfemb er of Honour if th e French, BeZr;ian, and Austrian Fire Brig ades' F ederatiolls.

LIKE most of the countries of Central Europe, the appliances for saving life and quenching fire in England were very crude, and consisted in the sixteenth century of ladders, hooks, crooks, and buckets. In the twelfth century it was made obligatory upon the citizens to provide buckets and ladders, and" between the feasts of Pentecost and St. Bartholomew to have before their doors a barrel full of water for quenching fire."

In the thirteenth century, night-watchmen or bellmen were employed in London and other cities of England to give alarm in case of fire, and a law was passed in 1583 which gave power to the authorities to "pull down or blow up houses for preventing the increase of fire."

At the first great fire of London, r666, the hand-squirt was the principal appliance used, but shortly afterwards, " engines for shooting water" came in vogue, but the squirt and bucket were still retained and used by many in preference to the engines. Parliament passed (after this great fire) many Acts dealing" with materials to be used in the construction of new buildings, and in the manner they were to be erected." The authorities, too, woke up. The City of London was divided into four quarters, and the various City Companies were held responsible for providing a certain number of officials to attend fires happening in their respective quarlers Fire plugs ·were inserted in the water mains, and annually some" able citizen or skilful engineer" was appointed" to attend upon the Lord Mayor to give his advice as to blowing up of any house or houses for preventing the increase of fire."

In 68 the Corporation of the City of London undertook the business of fire insurance, but the venture did not meet with success they also proposed to procure fire engines" far more useful than any which hath yet been invented," but this scheme also fell through.

In 704 the insurance of household goods and tradmg stock was first undertaken in London, and a number of "competent watermen to attend fires and to help remove goods to a place of safety until the danger was over" was enrolled. These watermen were free from impressment (press gang).

In 1707 an Act was passed making churchwardens responsible for fixing fire plugs, procuring and keeping in repair '.' a large engine," hose, &c , and for the payment of a gratUlty of lOS. to the turncock "whose water shall come into the main or pipe, where the first plug shall be opened at any fire . On the breaking out of any fire, the constables and beadles of the parish were to proceed thither with their

* A shorl hi slory of Brilish Fire wilh the principal pomts, .culled fro.l.n Acts of l'arIJ.amenl, relating lo Fire ProtectIOn and F lre I re,'e ntlO? from. the earlJest lImes; compiled for the Commlllee of the InlernalHmal FlI·e Brigades' Exhibilion, Berlin, for presenlalion lo the German Government.

A I D . - OcLober, 1902.

staves and badges of authority, and to cause the people to work at the engines."

In 1721, Newsham, of London, patented an engine of excellent pumping capacity. Many made by this maker are still in existence.

In 1763 an Act was passed whereby rewards were to be paid to those in charge of the engine which arrived at a fire.

In 17 9 several London fire insurance companies established a " fire watch or guard," supporting it at their own expense in 1794 they had ten fire stations in London, and extended their scheme to the provinces. The -uniform of these "fire brigade men" was very curious, and every part of it seemed designed with the object of causing as much delay as possible when dressing.

The following lines give an account of a "turn out" to a fire in 1812 ;-

The summoned firemen woke at call, And hied them to lheir station all, Starling [rom sh o rl and broken snooze

Each sought his ponderous hob-nailed shoes; But firsl his worsted hozen plied, Plush breeches next, in crimson dyed

His nether bulk embraced; Then jacket thick of red or blue, V/hose massy shoulder gave lo view, The badge of each respeetiYe crew

In tin or copper tra ced

The City of Edinburgh was visited by two dreadful conflagrations, and in 1703 the City Authorities there woke up and appointed twelve "Fyre Masters," with anum ber of assistants. "Each Fyre Master was to have in his hand one baton, and each of his assistants one leather cap on his head, ornamented with a cross iron bar and a badge of pewler on the front of it" leather buckets and creills were ordered to be made and kept in "the Kirk and TowneGuard Rooms." In the event of a fire, a council of war was held in a house within a short distance of the fire, having regard however to the safety of the Council this was presided over by the Provost, the Sheriffs, Baillie, Dean of the Guild and other magnates attending, as well as a host of minor officials, and the operations at the fire were directed from there. In 17 26, however, these regulations were somewhat altered, the twelve" fyre companies" were formed into four squads, and a standard was provided for each squad. "In each case of fyre the President, Fyre Masters and Magistrates shall repair to the President's Standard (which was a much larger and more elaborate flag or banner than the standards of the Fyre Masters), whence they shall go to view the danger; which being agreed upon, the Fire Masters with their assistants shall repair to their respective standards and stations and be employed in the best manner for extinguishing the said fyre."

The Edinburgh Police Fire Engine Establishment was formed in I 824, and James Braidwood was made "Fyre Master" he succeeded .in making the brigade very efficient, and it became the model for other fire engine establishments all over the kingdom

To be continued

On the recommendation of the Fire Brigade Committee the L. C. C. has agreed to a ward to Officer J. H West the Council's Silver Medal for extraordinary bravery. It will be remembered that Mr. Vest, at considerable personal risk, rescued two young women on the occasion of the fatal fire in Queen Victoria-s treel, City, on Monday, June 9th last.

October, 1902. -FIRST

Our Portrait Gallery.

MAJOR e. J. Fox, CHIEF OF THE LONDON SALVAGE CORPS.

THERE are few more popular institutions in London than the London Salvage Corps, and there are few more popular men in the fire service than its Chief, the subject of our sketch this month.

Major Fox, who has been at the head of the Corps since r895, has proved to be a model chief, and under him the institution has more than maintained its reputation.

A I D.- 59

more so than the members of the Private Fire Briga.des at London, for whom he has always a kind and encouraging word.

The mem bers of the Ambulance Corps also retain grateful recollections of the hospitality of the Major on Lord Major's Day and other similar functions when the hospitable doors of the Station at Watling-street are always open to the officers, men, and nursing sisters on duty.

Major Fox is a Vice-President of the National Fire Brigades Union, in the work of which he takes a keen and active interest. He is also a Member of Honour of the French and Belgian Fire Federations, and recently had conferred on him by H.I. M. the Emperor of Germany the Order of the Royal Red Cross of Germany.

May the Major continue for many years to command the Corps which esteems him so highly, and may he also continue to use his kindly influence in order to promote and foster that spirit of brotherhood, which should at all times exist between the civilian sister services.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, having had its attention drawn to the bravery of Mr. Rogers, whose premises in Hackney road, N.E., caught fire in April last, causing the death of seven persons, has decided to award him its medal. The bravery of Peter Eegelous, the carman, who gave his life in attempting to save others, has also received recognition, and his brother is to receive a framed certificate recording Peter's gallant deed A monument to be provided by public subscription is to be erected to the memory of brave Peter Regelous in the cemetery where he was laid to rest.

Plwto by drtlzm' TI -estoll, .1'011111)" Clleapside, I,omioll.

He was born on December 4th, 856, and was educated at University College, London, and afterwards at London. He was gazetted on the of June, to the 3rd Duke of Cambridge's Own Cr.l1ddlesex) RegIment, and was promoted to his captaincy in April 1890, and is now a major in the regiment.

As a volunteer fireman, and subsequently in his present position, he has most of fires which have occurred in London withm the past thlrty years. In connection with his military duties, Major Fox has on several occasions acted as a staff officer to General Sir Henry Trotter, e.M.V.O., commanding the

The Major gave very expert eVIdence cO.nnection with the Cripplegate, BarbIcan and Queen Victonastreet fires, and on each occasion it was pre-tty evident to those in the know that he was sitting tight. At the latter fire also it will be remembered, it was he who first thought of atten;pting the rescue of the imprisoned girls from the adjoining roof.

Major Fox is held in the highest possible esteem wherever he is personally known, and the companies, whose interests he so guards ll1 the metropolitan district, are keenly alIve to the value of his services, and fully appreciate them. Major F.ox works well with the Fire service generally, and the unpaId branch especially entertain for him a warm feeling of regard. None

The retirement from the ranks of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade of Station Officer David Wall, after twenty-eight years' service, which has just taken place, recalls the fact that he was one of the first London Firemen to receive the silver medal for extraordinary bravery at fires. NIr. Wall rendered valuable assistance in saving five lives at a fire which occurred in Hackney -road. Since then he has been officially commended on two occasions for conspicuous gallantry.

For the last nine years this heroic fireman has been in charge of the Fire Scation in Lindsell-street, Blackheathhill, Greenwich. The L.e.e. awarded him the maximum pension of his rank.

The children of the South-street Baptist Chapel Sunday School, Greenwich, had their annual excursion to Barden Park, on July 24th During the afternoon one of their number-a little girl of nine years of age-named Eva Grace Penfold Gibbs, daughter of Fireman Gibbs, of Lindsell-street L.e.e. Fire Station, Blackheath-hill, fell into the Medway. She was in danger of being drowned, when she was rescued by one of her young companions, Miss Ivy Wall, the daughter of Mr. David Wall, then the Officer-in-Charge of the L.e.e.'s Fire Station in Lindsell-street, Blackheath-hiI1, and now Chief Officer of the Clacton-on-Sea Fire Brigade. I vy's bra very and Dromptitude were, at the suggestion of the grateful parentS of little Eva, brought under the notice of the Royal Humane Society by Mr. l\lfred .it Carr, of I, Church-street, Greenwich, and as a result l\Iiss -yrall has been awarded the Royal Humane Society'S certificate on parchment. We are glad to note this recognition of a brave daughter of a brave father.

The History and Development of Manual, Steam and Motor Fire Engines.

Bv CHAS. T. CROWDEN, M.e.E.I., M.L.A.F.E., M.S.A., &c., &c

(ContilZued from page 4-5.)

WE now deal with th e "History of the Motor Fire Engine " as constructed in Am erica . This country will be d ealt with afterwards.

Fig. 50 shows a "Motor " steam fir e engine constructed in 1841 by Mr. Paul Raps ey Hodg e, a Cornishman, who went to America in that year. This e ngine was th e fir s t se lf-pr ope ll ed st eam fir e engine eve r constructed,

October, 1902

pointed out that Mr. Hodge, who made the first self-propelled fire engine, lived a great many yea rs before Mr. Fred. Hodge, of Lamb e th, came into existence, and it is probable that the esteemed gentlemen refe rred to had never

Oc tober, 19 0 2 -F IR ST

F ig. 54 is a self-propeller built by Messrs. Lane and Bodley, from d es igns by Mr. A. B. Latter, Cincinnati, about 1865 Th e Amoskeag Fire Engine Co 8ppear to have been one o[ the first to construct a practical motor steam

Fig. 55 sh ows a self-propeller constructed by the Manchester Locomotive \Vorks, Manches ter, successors to the Amoskeag Manufacturing Co., in us e in Boston, 19 00 There are several of th ese engines in use in America, but they are now fitt ed with two drivin g c ba ins a nd a differ ential gear shaft, superseding th e old machines made with a single drivin g chain, as manufac tured by the Amoskeag Fire Engine Co. in 186 7 3. nd late r.

Fig. 56 is a self-propeller mad e by the Manchester Locomotive \V orks, 1900 Tbis large eng ine is now at Pittsburg. photograph was tak en when the engine was travelling at th e speed of 25 miles an hour What would our authorities say if our engines thr e w volumes of smoke out like this one apparently d oes ?

(To be con tinu ed.)

Provincial Fire Brigades.

FI G 52.

seen or kn e w eac h other. My lett er brought a l ctt cr from a neph e w o f the lat e Mr. Paul Rapsey H o dge, Mr. H. Hodg e, livin g at St. Austell, Cornwall. (Vtde c opy of letter r ece ived from Mr. H. Hod ge)

LCol'Y.] The Cornwall Seed 'Warehouse and Tu rsc ri es, Sl. Austell, Cornwa ll. No\ ember 20th, I90l.

Re PAUL RAl'SKY HODGE, C.E. DEAR SIR,- ll aYc sent you the St, J.Justell5 tara l so !fTes!I/Iz'lls!el Ga zette, the letter I w rote in answer to " 1\1olor" saying my uncle Paul }{apsey Hodge was not an American, and gi\'ing some details of hi s fir st steam fire engine.

and wh en used for pumping, the road whe els were raised from the ground by a screw jack, and th en a cted as flywheels to the e ngin e It was lik e a goo d many more of the ea rly motor engines, it being steered by a horse, some of them having n o mechanical steering whatever This p ec uliar device of horse steering was us ed in th e early days of traction e ngin es up to 1860, and shows what little mechanical knowledge we must have possessed in those days. A short time ago there appeared a letter in the TYestmin ster Ga ze tte from a m e mb er of a well-known fire engine firm

Since writing my l etter to the TVestllu'lZSter Gazette, while in L on · don I went to th e South Kensington Museum and diligently searched up th e whole matte r, and found that Mr. Braithwaite invented the first s team fire engi ne in 183I. It was used in L ondon at one or tw o fires, but no one would have anything to do with it, as it was not considered worthy of attent on, so was allowed to sink into ob li vion and nothing was of My uncle went to Philadelphia in the early thlrlles, In I841 lI1vented and constructed the first steam fire engine ever used In.Amenca. was self-propelled and was a gigantic sucIts tn altook place 111 New York before o\ er 20,000 people, and 1l threw 290 tons of water per honr from two jets at 166 fl. high was done between Mr. Braithwaite's engine in 1831 and my S 111 184 I. At the. present tIme there IS a fine cl rawing of this at the South Kensmgton M USellll1 also an oi painting of my uncle 111 th e old steam eng ine department behind Trevethick's Beam Engin e

Fig 5 is th e portrait of th e inventor of the first motor

FIG. 54, fire engine in 1867. At th e end of the crankshaft of th e pumpin g engin e they put a chain wh ee l, and connecte? up one of the drivin g wheels by m ean s of a co mmon ordll1ar y link chain. Whilst proceed in g to a fir e th e pump pistons were at work in dry pump barrels, and th e single driving wheel us ed to slip uphill. Th e eng in e always had a t endency to run round th e come r on the off-sid e th e whole tim e

A LLI THWAITE The first of a series o f socials, und er the auspices of th e Volunteer Fire Brigade, was held in th e Institut e on Octob er loth, wh en ther e was a good attendance. The room was prettily decorated for the occasion, and a very enjoyable evening was spent, th e music being supplied hy the Cartmel Quadrille Band.

On Saturday a rummag e sale was h eld, the proce ds to be devoted to th e fir e men's eq uipment fund. Mr. W. J. Lamb , chie f officer, had ma d e an appeal to the parishioners for h e lp, and in r esponse a large assortment of good and us eful articles was given, in addition to which parcels of n e w goods wer e sent by tradesmen of Ulverston, Kendal, Cartmel, and Grange. Th e sale was well attended, and resulted in adding over £12 to the funds, which, together with th e balance in hand from socials neld last winter, will enable the officers to provide th e mselves and the men with a respectable outfit. A reel and hose costing £30 has already been supplied by th e P arish Council, and a suitabl e s ta ti o n a t Allithwaite Farm has been kindl y lent by Mr. Hudson.

F G. 55.

Upon r eac hin g tbe fire you co ul d uncouple the chain .wh ee l of th e c rankshaft, so that the eng in e cou ld pump wnhout b eing prop ell ed. I am told by a who was co nnected with the Amoskeag Co. at th e tJllle, that th e whe e l slippe d so badly th at steel spuds were .scrcwed in the d:ivin a wh eel with th e result th at they pIcked up the pavmg and threw them th ro u gh th e shop windows Th ese

Th e m en were some fe w months ago supplied with belts, axes, and wrenches at a cost of £ 12, the money being raised by voluntary contributions. The brigade number ten mp-n, und e r a chief and seco nd officer. The y have gone throu gh a course of instruction a nd drill, valu a bl e assistance being rend er ed by Captain Hall, of the Holker Brigad e, and are now in an efficient condition.

stating that self-propelled engines wer e not new that Mr. Hodge, of the Lambeth Distillery, was the and, the fire pumps were fitted by his firm to a steam. carr.1age, called the "Fly-by-Night," originally made for Slr Taus Salt. I contradict ed this stateme n t , and

FI G 53.

steam fire engine ll1 America -Mr. Paul Rapsey Hodge, e.E.

Fig. 52 is a self-propclled steam fir e e ng ine by A. B. and E. Latter, of Cincinnati, in 1854. This r em inds one more. of a steam road vehicle without any convenience for carrymg pass en gers or goods.

Fig. 53 is a se lf-p rop ell er by M ess rs. L ee and Larned New York, built in 1858, and, as will be seen has on l; three wheels-one a steering wheel.

engines wer e looked upon as failures makers, and there is no doubt they were. mad e d ouble-drivin g no success co uld tain e d.

by th e English

Until th e y wer e be possibly ou-

LON G SUTTON.-It having for a long time been felt that our fir e brigade was quite inadequate for a town of the importance of Long Sutton, owing chiefly to laxity on th e part of the members, Urban agreed to give all the members notlce to termmate theIr engagements at the end of the present year. It was further decided that a new brigade should be formed, to consist of a superinte ndent, a for e man and four firemen, who should each be supplied with helm ets, tunic, boots, and lJelt, at a total e stimated cost of about £30, and that the scale of pay should be-Superintendent, £6 per annum; foreman, £3' and fir e men 30s ; and for attending fires within the mile radius-Superintendent lOS each and men 5s. eac? ; over a mil e, 15s and 7S 6d. respect1vely. Mr. W. Jenkmson, cycle maker, was unanimously ekcted superinter:dent, and he will submit names of thos e he cons1ders SUItable for the brigad e

HULL. - P.e. McDonald has be en given the merit strip e and placed a class higher for r esc uing three from a burning hous e in Dock-s treet r ece ntly Actmg-In -

FIG. 50.

FIG 5 I.

FIG. 56.

spector Booth, of the Fire Brigade, who has served the six months for which he was appointed, has been promoted to the rank of first-class inspector from August 19 th

WADEBRlDGE.-After Wadebridge Fire Brigade's drill on Tuesday evening, September 23rd under Captain J S Grant, a meeting was held, at which Dr. Eden was unanimously elected hon. doctor, and it was resolved to form an ambulance class in connection with the brigade.

'VEST BROMWICH.-On Saturday, September 20th, a very pleasant gathering took place in the Recreation Room at the Central Fire Station, Paradise-street, 'Vest Bromwich, for a two-fold object. First it was intended as a welcome home to Fireman T. Bellmore, ,vho recently returned from South Africa, where for close upon two-and-a-half years he has been serving with the Grenadier Guards, and in the second place the opportunity was taken to bid farewell to an old and esteemed fireman in the person of W. H Westwood who sailed for Australia on Sept. 26th

The room had been very prettily decorated for the o.ccasion with flags plants The proceedings were presIded over by the chief of the fire brigade (Superintendent W. Tozer), and the other officers present included Engineers Berry and Green, assistant engineer Penn, &c. Superintendent Tozer proposed in fitting terms the toast of "The King," which was heartily drunk. At a later stage Superintendent Tozer made a presentation to Fireman 'Vestwood, and in the course of a well conceived speech asked recipient to accept a handsome Gladstone bag: subscnbed. for by the and members of the brigade. The Supenntendent explamed that Fireman Westwood intended leaving them shortly to go and seek his fortune in Australia. He would depart, he was sure with the best wishes of his colleagues in the West Fire Briand thE. h<?pe thal he might succeed in his new sphere of 11fe. Supenntendent Tozer also presented Fireman with a gold signet ring on behalf of his brother, FIreman J. Westwood

.Fireman Westwood, who was loudly cheered, tendered hIS smcere and grateful thanks to the officers and members of the Borough Fire Brigade for their tokens of esteem and goodwill.

A plate on !he b>l.g bore the following inscriptlOn: - Presented to FlTeman W. H. Westwood by the West Broa:wich Fire Brigade, September 20th, Supenntendent Tozer subsequently referred to the return of Fireman Bellmore, and observed that they were pleased to welcome him back home. After the hardshIps he had experienced in South Africa, they were glad to see him return safe and sound.

Fireman Bellmore, who wore his South African medal thanked the members of the brigade f?r their good wishes; and also Jor what they had done durmg the time he was away, two years and five months.

the evening an enjoyable programme of music, reCitatIOns, &c., was gone through.

HARTLEPOOL. - In early hours of the morning of 30th September, P. C. PIggott, of the Hartlepool f0rce called to. 19, Alliance-street, where he found Mrs: Glbson profusely from a wound in the leg, and consequently 10 .an exhausted condition. He rendered first aId, bandagmg up the wound until the arrival of Dr: bs. The latter gentleman expressed his at the manner in which the constable had dealt WIth the case, and stated that, but for his timely aid, the woman would have bled to death.

A I D.- October, 1902

Letters to the Editors.

LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL MOTOR FIRE E GINE.

DEAR SIRs,·-My attention has been drawn to a motor steam engine which has been constructed from the designs of Captam Wells, by the London County Council at their repaIr workshop in Southwark. As early as 1900 I a steam fire engine for the Norwich Union stationed at theIr Worcester depot. The success of this led into communication with the London County Council and further to Commander Wells putting himself into n;e; in January, February and March, 190f, I met Wells to dISCUSS the advisability of converting their eXlstmg steam fire engine into motors.

Ar:- was for the purpose, and was asked to deSIgns .for carrying out the work, which dId accordmg to hIS mstructlOns. I also took him the plans and of the vVorcester engine, which were exa.mmed by hImself Gordon, hi s engineer, who co.mmul1lcated WIth me several tImes. The two designs subm1 tted and c!10sen by COl!lmander Viells were not quite the as carned. out by hI 111, although in detai l they closely lesemble the prll1clples. I adopted on 'Worcester engine. The mot or fire engll1e was not entIrely made at the County Council workshop, but is of an old standard pattern \V.hlch they have convcrted in a similar manner to the one i dId for l!nion Fire Insurance The possibility of convertIng an eXlstmg steam fire engll1e mto a motor had not evcn cros.sed Captain Wclls' mind until pointed out by myself. The Il1dependent motor engine, position of the connter shaft and dnvll1g gea.r, and using the same boiler for supplying steam to It, IS only to myself; but the hideous forc carraige and also gear, I may say are not acquired from any desIgns. of mme, and are not worthy of the amateurism of mechaniCS. feel that after the considerable amount of trouble I took, and the I was put to by Captain Wells, I was not treated faIrly Jl1 the matter. I t appears to me that his sole object was not to bring out the (( Crowden" pattern but the (( Capt1.in Wells ': pc:ttern steam fire in the. same manner he dId WIth the ordll1ary steam fire engine, whIch. has been standard pattern of the brigade before Captam Wells cVldcntly kncw what a steam fire enaine was. - Yours faithfully, b CHAS. T. CROWDEN.

October 14th, I902.

BRISTOL MARl E AMBULANCE CORPS.

Sm S,-S urely our work, associated as it is with the motto Pro utilitate homimt1lz, is too grand a movement to indulge in such petty sc(uabbles <;Ls are at present damaging the work in Bristol. The Manne Corps has done, and is doing, splendid work, but contend ItS usefulness would be intensified were the mem bel'S to throw in their lot with the City of Bristol Corps I have studied the question- I had 111gh Its 111ception, and I am fain to admit that I thmk the offiCIals of the Bristol Marine Corps are in the .. Dr. J. S'. Griffiths, who is the deputy-commissioner for the district In Lristol is situated, is a gentleman who is well knm"n 111 .the city for his broad views and courteous treatof all With \\'h.om he may be brought in contact. The m whIch writes does but thinly veil spmt of antagonIsm whICh he entertains towards the recogmsecl.corps of the city. My advice to him would be, instead of amng hIS. supposed grieyances on the housetop where everxone estlm.ate them at. full value, to arrange a WIth the brigade authorItles, and quietly and temperately. dISCUSS matters in dispute bctwcen them, and I feel sure that If he would this course, he would find that those who have of brigade matters would receive him and treat his vIews. WIth every courtesy. I t must be obvious to every right thll1kmg man that the authorities in London could not thr0w over theIr in Bristol in order to receive the Bristol Mr. Trezise is doing orand work and IS no to minimise it; but one belIeves 111 the umty of our cause, I urge him to hold out the

October, 1902 -FIRST

olivc branch, and with his aid and that of the splendid fellows who serve with him, the City of Bristol will have an ambulancc brigade second to none. - Yours respectfully, A CITIZEX.

Bristol, September J 3th, T902

WAR MEDAL vVITHOUT BARS.

DEAR SIRS,-As a member of the Ambulance Corps (S t. John 's) in 1900 I volunteered for South Africa, and was acccpted. Whilst there I served as a sergeant in the General Hospital. \Vithout my entering into detail, think you well know to some extent what we had to contend with. I return ed home in J901, baving served in all tltree Co 1(177 ies. On my return I received a (( medal," but no bars.

Can you tell me whether I am justified in applying for same, seeing that the Volunteers and those who served in the Yeomanry Hospital have received hars for each Colony they ha ve served in?- Yours truly, NIL DESPER ,\XDlJ'I!.

:Nlorecambe, October 4th, 1902

[ OTE. \Ve s110uld say you would be justified.-ED.]

CURIOUS MILITARY :Y10TOR WAGGON.

DEAR SIRS,-I n a recent issue of your paper you gave a short notice of a" Curious Military Motor Waggon. " I wish to point out to you that this was not tested by the Army Service Corps at all, but before the Committee of Mechanical Transports. This system was introduced to the \Var Office Authorities, and is known as the (( Kelles" system. The machine brought to Aldershot was for the purpose of giving the Authorities an Exhibition as to whether the invention was suitable for military work or not.

-;'he inven tion was brought before the War Office by myself some eighteen months ago, and has been subjected to many trials, also thc subject of many designs to suit their purposes.

Any further information the invention I shall be pleased to give to anyone applying to me. An interesting trial of this machine was given in the Engineer of 31St May, 190 ). I shall be happy to supply you with any further information at any time should you require it.-Yours faithfully, CHAS. T. CROWDEN.

October 14th, 1902

TI-IE S.J.A. MEN AT THE FRONT.

SIRs,-In reply to the letter in FIR T AID last month, signed" Scally wag," I think this writer must be very bitter against the St. John men. As I presume he is an old R.A.M.C. man I can well understand it. The S.J.A.B. have made a name in South Africa, and one they are proud of. I don 't know what he means by the second medal; I have not seen it yet, and in fact up to now I have not got all the bars I am entitled to. As to his contention that men were recruited solely for the purpose of sending them to South Africa, I believe this is a pure myth. All the men that went out with my detachment were men who had seen four or five years' service, and 1 think they could compare favourably with our R.A.lVI.C. comrades who had quitted the service some years ago after the usual three years and never done anything since. As regards the advertisement he talks about, I should like to see it. When you quotc such things you should give chapter and verse.-

Yours truly,

I.Y. HOSPIT.\L.

SHALL vVE l\1UNICIPALISE THE AMBULA CE SERVICE.

D.I£AR SlRs,-In answer to l\Ir. A. vVinslade, I should like to say that on reading his lettcr I could at once perceive that he was a gcntleman who liked to bave entirely his own way, and one who would resent any authority over him.

I think the rule relating to the removal of invalids long distances is a most desirable one. Accustomed as the staff at headquarters are to moving patients long distances every. day their lives, it is much better that surh cases should be left 111 theIr hands. They are constantly at it; with them it is their profession, and it stands to reason that it is much better to have such a removal conducted by professed ambulance men rather than by an amateur who, perhaps, never conducted such a case before. No doubt in many towns there are ambulance

AI D.-

men fully competent as those at headquarters, but if these are not avaIlable, rather than losc the job the first available who may be a recruit, is put on to it. No doubt Mr. Wmslade has got a ,:ery lot of ambulance helpers, but if he were to reflect a bttle .1 t,hmk he would realise that the very necessary amount of dlsclplme exacted by the authorities at St John's Gate can. only tend to improve his men. His remarks about the receIpt of the letter from Mr. Brazier, which he proudly states he no notice of, do not say much for the SIde of hIS nature; and his sneering remarks about the ChIef Commission.erc:;' Report will, I should say, have the effect of not commendll1g Mr. \Vinslade's ideas to the mass of ambulan.cc men women! who, having taken up ambulance work WIth a Sll1cere deSIre to perfect themselves in it, do not regard necessary rules and reg ulations as «( military red tape."

Thanking you in anticipation for the insertion of this letter.-Yours truly,

"A BELIEVER

MOTOR FIRE

ENGINES A

TD

Al\1BULA 'CE CARS.

DEAR SIRS,-Replying to the above by L. A. C. with regard to motor fire engines, it appears to me that his experience of (a s he admits himself), having ridden on a motor car IS not "ery or extensive. He speaks of a chall1 ItS rivets by VIbratIon. !t be impossible for. a chall1 to lo se rIvets throu gh \'lbratlOn. The driving at the present tIme are so well made, both in respect of material and workmanship, that it is far more reliable than any horse trace hook. From a manufacturer's (or maker's, as he puts It) Il1terest, he, like most people, would rather sit down and let our Continental friends ad\-ance whilst we stand still.

Again, one of the chief faults of this country is that the Corporation and Councils do not have the first class fire appliances that they have in America and other co untries, because they do not pay for them. If all were like L. A. C. they would stick to the hand squirts even in these days when the steam fire engine has shown its ability.

From a maker's interests, I may say motors haye been a very expensive outlay, requiring a considerable amount of en· thusiasm on the part of the builders. In a few years time horses will be removed from fire brigade work altogether. The failures we hear of in motors are, in nine cases out of ten, not the cause of the motor, but from the inexperience of the users.

The recent report of the 'Val' Office Authorities with vehicles generally, both light and heavy, is that the endurance of the horse against the motor cannot be compared, neither can the cost, reliability, and the distance traversed in a given time.

Before L. A. C. ventures remarks on motors generally, I should advise him to have a little more practical experience with good motors, when he will find it will take a great deal of long experience, and a deal of enthusiasm and capital to acquire it.-Yours faithfully,

CHAS. T. CROWDEN. Motor Works, Leamington, near Birmingham.

J. B.-Your enquiry is one that scarcely comes within our sphere, but we will endeavour to ascertain partic ulars for you.

L. A. C.-\Ve acknowledge with thanks your kind letters and admirable sketches, which we shall hope to use shortly We thank you also for the kindly interest you continue to take in FIR T AID.

GREENSTREET. - The annual report of the Greenstreet Division of the S.J.A.B. shows that since its formation eight cases have been treated to the entire satisfaction of the medical men under whose care they subsequently came. The division has been well supported during the year, the amount collected being upwards of '£16. Dr. elby ha.s kindly consented to give another course of thIS ,yinter. The members of the division are to deCld;; at a meeting on the 2Istinst. whether these shall be on Nursing or First Aid.

Volunteer Ambulance School of Instruction.

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By DR. HINSLEY

S it is the earnest \1 ish and desire of the ne \\ Propri etors to make tilis Journal as allracti\·e and entertaining as posil'lc, correspnnclcnts in all parts of thc country are asked to gi\·e it all the h e lp they can. uf Corps and Officers of Di\-isions of thc St. J ohn "\mbulance Brigade, Officers of the Yolullt ce r :.\lcdical Staff Corps, the Y olunteer j \mlnIian ce S chool of Instru ct on , and Chief Officcrs of Fire Brigades \\ill. it is hoped, do their best to make it knUl\ n amongst the 1\1eml,ers of their respcct il"e organisations and \1 ill also send fur puhlicatiun their official nCI\ s and notices. Suggestions are illl it e l f'H· I'ri/c Competitions and otiler matters \\ hich will achance the interest of the J llurnal.

\\'e particularly dcsire to ask uur c\II"n.:spunc1cnb tu Ill:: brief and to the p"int in any comm unicati"ns they may send liS fur publication.

\\ 'c arc pleased lu re cord the fact that we are already recei\·ing a grcat oCSUpp'"t from all parts uCthe cOllntry, and as <lur space is sumew hat limited, in dcaling \\ itil repo rts oC lo ca l m ee ting for presentntilln of certificates, &c., it woukl he hetter that a hrief repult

"ere \\ ritten, gi\'ing a short resume tlf thc nuious puints touched up"n 11\· the prin cipal s peakers, rather than that a report shoulcl he scnt gi"ing in cletail the \\ h ole recorcl uf the meeting. This repl'rt is interesting to local i<irs t-aiclers, hut it1l1ust he borne in mind that \\e are catering ror the .:\ml )lIlan ce and Fire Brigade worlel al large.

S OF SL BSCRI I'TI 01\.

For 12 IlltJl1ths, IS. 6d., pust flel', ttt iJe sent tu the 'ultlishers, \lcssrs. Dale, Reynolcls and Co., 46, Cannon-street, Londun, E. C. Iddress "7'7("' 11/),)011 1", '-olldOIl.·

Td,,}hoIiC No. 'i/77 Hall/'-.

Brevities.

\\ .1£ cull the following from lhl· " -"s/(' rll Dail.l ..Y('ws:ST -' 0111\ L\:\I J:PL.\.l\CE BRH;AlJE. 'i\re are asked to state that Co lonel Chief Commissioner, and Dr. \\ Ti lliam \ 'ernon, Ueputy C01l1missioner, were pre, ented from being present in London on Saturday la L ill co nne ction "ith the visit o f the S.) .A.B., members of which assisted along the mute of the Royal procession. I)r. Lauric ( Reclruth ) \Ias 111 command.

\ Ve understood that Gcneral l\'innis was in command, but it would secm that we were misinformed . The 'c provincial pressmen have a kn ack of obtaining knowledge which is denied to (heir Lond on colleagucs.

"\V1-: cull the following from an American contemporary :-.\ccording to the firemen wh o haye met at thc Convention of the International .\ssociation of Fire Engineers, no\\' being held in this city (Kew York), the methods of fighting fire. in the great cities of the world are years behind the times. The days of ponderous steam fire engines, water to\\-ers, and trucks are numbered, and in their place comes stand-pipes, with lateral arms) automatic sprinklers, and independent highservice water mains, and where n o great grnyity water supply can he had, stationary pumping engines. ·'everal of the best known fire department chiefs in this country arc agreed on this point, and similar ideas \\"ere expressed by ="1r. Thomas B. "-ursell, chief of the Fire Departm en t of Dublin: Mr. William Ely, of Leice ter: and ="11". I )ayid J. :stein, of Melbourne \u strnlia.

MR HORACE S. FOLKJ::R, of Guiluford, secretary to the :National Fire Brigades Union has recei\-ed from the ="1arquis of Lan downe the Royal Red Cross of the Third Class conferred upon him by the German Emperor in r ecognition of his sen·ices as delegate to the International Fire Brigade Congress in Berlin last year, with an intimation of the King's penl1lSSlOl1 to accept and \year the decoration.

THb Rejatc says :-One of the most interesting features of the recent Royal procession was the \york of the St. John \ mbulance Corps. I happened to be seated ju t opposite a " at which the work was being carried on, and in the coursc of an hour 1 saw some half-dol.en ,-ictims of misfortune, principally of the fair e:\, treated al fresco. The whole of the (, incidents " that I witnessed wele duc to fainting fits, and the process was nearly always Lhe same. Therc was a t1loyement in thc crowd, and a cry. (luick as lightning the am bulance men were on the spot, and pushing into the crowd had succourcd the patient he fore you could say Jack Robinson. Then the fair sufferer was tenderly carried across the road and laid out on a kind of stretche; preyious to haying restoratives administered. But the first item ot treatment was inyariably the samc. The ambulance official had a wild hunt for the lady's hat · pm In some cases there were three or four hatpins to find before the headgear could be rcmo\·ccl. to a hiuh official of the corps afterwards, 1 uggestcd that "hata pin drill" should form part of the regular course of Instruction, and he smilingly acknowledged that a great d eal of delay often occured in fainting rases while those formidable

b h d"o After the hat was oft weapons were elng seare e r. the rest was simple. Brows were bathed, lips were moistened, occasionally a mysterious something in a bottle was administered, and in a little time the white face began to have a little colour again. Then the patient would sit up, gaze nervously around and put her hand to her back hair. In the rearrangement of this there was always a good Samaritaine handy who assisted with hairpins, &c The hair rearranged, the hatpins gathered together and put into place, the fair invalid would murmur her thanks to the officials and depart.

St. John Ambulance Association.

BRADFoRD.-On October 28th, for the first time in the history of the S.J.A.A. (Bradford Centre), there was a puhlic distribution of medallions and certificates at the Bradford Town Hall, to the united students in over thirty classes. The gathering "vas one which, from the enthusiasm pervading it, should give an impetus to the admirable work of the association in Bradford. The achievements of the past are worthy of all praise, for since the Bradford Centre was formed, fifteen years ago, no less than 5,626 certincates and 407 medallions have been awarded.

Dr. Evans proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor and Mayoress for their services.

Miss McMillan, in seconding the motion, said she was very much interested in ambulance work, and her only regret was that it did not go a little further. Her keen hope was that even the little which they had learnt about physiology and the nervous system of man might tempt them to go still further in that great field of useful inquiry.

The motion was heartiJ y carried.

In acknowledging the compliment, his Worship said the part he and the :vrayoress had taken in that evening's function had been so much a labour of love that they were quite undeserving of thanks.

Mr. Garbutt proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Evans, chairman of the committee, and Mr. Farndale, honorary secretary. Both these gentlemen acknowledged the compliment. This ended the proceedings.

GLOUCESTER.-The annual meeting of the Committee of the Gloucester Centre was held on Thursday evening, October 30th, at the Guildhall, Mr. l M. Collett, lP., President of the Centre, in the chair. The secretary read the report for the year ending September 30th, which showed that during the year fourteen classes had been held in the centre (as against eight the previous year); it was decided to hold the annual Challenge Shield Competition on Thursday, December 4th, and to invite Surgeon-Major Hutton, official organiser of the S.J.A.A., to act as judge It is expected that there will he a very keen competition this year. The various classes are busily preparing for the winter's work, several new ones having already started, amongst them being one at Highnam and one at Tuffley.

HODDLEslJEN.-In connection with this branch of the S.J.A A. a social and ball was held in the Hoddlesden Cooperated Hall on Saturday evening, November 1St. At an interval during the evening a framed photo of the members of the class was presented to Dr. Smith, who had been the instructor.

EWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.-The annual class of instruction on " First Aid to the Injured," conducted by Dr. F.

N. Grinling, in connection with the corps of the Walker Shipyard of Sir Willam G. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co Ltd and the Wincomblee Shipyard of William Dobson and Co., was inaugurated in the Presbyterian Hall, 'Walker, on the r6th ult., by Surgeon-Major F. W. Gib?on,. of Tyne Dock, who gave a lecture illustrated wlth lIme hght views on "First aid at the Front" to a crowded and audience. The lecture, which was of an exceptionally interesting and instructive character, embraced a sketch of the work included in thE Syllabus of Instruction of the S.lA.A., and many new members were enrolled in the class as the result.

Prior to the lecture, a programme of music was acceptably rendered by a party from the Presbyterian Church Choir, and a presentation in the form of "A Grandfather' Chair," was made by Dr. Grinling on behalf of the members of the Walker Shipyard Corps to Mr. J as. Virtue, Sen., on his retirement owing to failing health, from the office of vice-captain of the corps.

Votes of thanks having been accorded the lecturer and the singers, the meeting concluded with the National Anthem.

RADSToCK.-Another course of male first aid lectures, under the auspices of the Somerset County Council is announced to be given by Dr. R. G. Worger, L.R.c.P , M.R.C.S , S.L.A., at the Victoria Hall, commencing at 7 p. m. on the 25th inst. Alfred Dands again being the energetic hon. secretary.

READING.-The annual meeting of the Reading Centre of the S lA.A., the value and utility of which is recognised by all, was held in the Abbey H?-ll on Thursday evening, Dr. G. H. R. Holden (chanman) presiding. The committee presented their report for the year. Mr. G. W. Palmer, M.P., was Ie-elected president, and the vice-presidents were re-elected ell bloc, with the addition of Mr. C. E. Keyser, J.P. The other officers were re-elected as follows: Chairman, Dr. G. H. R. Holden; treasurer, Dr. H. H. Phillips-Conn; hon.

Mr. A. G Smith A letter was read from Mr SImmons, secretary to the Royal Counties' Agricultural Society, conveying the Society'S best thanks for the excellent arrangements made for the Reading Show. A demonstration in ambulance and first aid work followed.

Messrs. Burroughs, Wellcome and Co., of Snow-hill, E.C. have just received from I taly reports of the decisions of the Tribunal and tbe Royal Appeal Court in Milan, in an action brought for infringement of their patent, and, having regard t9 the serious difficulties which British manufacturers have encountered in preventing fraudulent misuse of their trade marks and names in Italy, it has occurred to them that the important points of law set forth in the summing up and judgments in this action will be of general interest to industrial firms in this country. They go on to say that when they discovered that their right were being invaded, they found it impossible to get any substantial information on Italian law from counsel in London. I t was necessary to break entirely new ground in Italy, and the success of their action has been mainly due to the thoroughness and cate with which the case was prepared and laid before the courts Many English firms who have been unsuccessful in their litigations in Itayl, and who severely condemn the Italian courts, have, it is believed, from want of knowledge of the Italian language and I tali an usages, failed to make their cast:!s sufficiently complete and clear, and have left loopholes through which the defendants have escaped by the aid of technicalities. Messrs. Burroughs. Wellcome and Co. will gladly give copies to anyone interested in the subject.

N ovember, r902 -F I RS T Our Portrait Gallery.

SUPT. C. W. BAKER, D.C.M., S lA.B.

THE portrait which is here depicted has almost a pathetic interest as it represents one of the smartest and brightest members of the Ambulance Brigade who left our shores to do duty for Queen and country in the late South African War and who has returned to us "broken," as Kipling would say, "in the ,Yars."

Cecil Baker was born at Rock Ferry, in Cheshire, his father being a fleet engineer in the Royal Navy. He was

A I D. -

has been g.ranted t? by the War Office, being unable fO How hIS avocatlOn, hIS means of livelihood gone, and hIS CIrcumstances are, therefore, somewhat straitened.

It IS well known that for a period of about twelve years Cecil Baker, or as he was known in COl1 (' ert circles ".Cecil at all times only too willing to hIS serVlces at the dIsposal of any charitable cause, and his clever impersonations have gi,en a fillip to many concerts in connection with the S.J.A.B. His many fnends feel, that now that he is himself incapacitated, some effort should be made, to pay in part the debt that is due to him for his many self-sacrifices in the past, and with this in view, we understand, a complimentary benent will be shortly organised in connection with which many of the artisces have kindiy consented to give their serVIces

\Ve hear that a com mittee IS ll1 course o f formation and any member of the S.J.A.B. or other institution with which Mr. Baker was connected who may wish to serve on it are requested to send in their nam es.

In another part of this journal the fact is recorded that Supt. Baker has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for meritorious service in the field, and, we are sure, that all who have met him will unite in the wish that he may be restored to health and long be spared to wear the decoration which he has so honourably earned.

Police Ambulance.

NORDEX (Lancashire) -On Saturday, the r8th Oct., Mr. Supt. McQueen, the officer in charge of the Rochdale County Police Division, presented a fully equipp ed Horse (Accident) Ambulance Carriage to the Nord e n Urban District Council, for the use of their Urban District.

educated first at the Wallasley Grammar School and subsequently at the University College Hospital, Liverpool. He was originally intended for the medical pr'Jfession but his natural bent was towards engineering, and after serving a period in connection with this profession he was appointed resident engineer for the London District of the Midland Railway.

\Vhen the late South African War broke out, Mr. Balcer was one of the first to place his services at the disposal of the Headquarters Authorities, and for a long period assisted in drilling the men prior to their departure for the front, [or which, at a meeting of the Chapter and Council of the Order of St. John he was recommended for and recei\'ed an illuminated vellum vote of thanks signed by the Grand Prior, our present King. When 1\1r. Langman's Hospital was formed, he reverted to the ranks and was immediately appointed Senior Supernumerary Officer-in-charge-ranking as Sergt. ·Major. He left England in February 1900 and remained at the seat of War until July I902. It had been his original intention to settle out in the Colony, but an unfortunate accident resulted in partial paralysis and he was, reluctantly, compelled to return to this country. His many friends and comrades will, we are sure, echo our wish that he may eventually be restored to health, but, in the meantime, notwithstanding a temporary IJension that

In doing so, the Police Superintendent stated that this was the eighth Horse (Accident) Am bulance Carriagebesides wheeled litters-which he had been the means of raising for the various parts of his Police Division, at a cost of upwards of £r,100, which amount had been raised mainly by the Divisional Sports, and he was proud to say that the whole of the districts comprising his Division were now supplied with up-to-date and fully equipped am bulances.

All honour to these modern Samaritans in "blue. " What a pity we have not a few like them in London! We might get a proper Ambulance Service then.

The whole of the ambulances presented by the constabulary men under Ir. Supt. McQueen have been built by Messrs. Wilson and Stockall, the well-known am bulance builders, of Bury, and are giving the greatest satisfaction.

A series of ten sheets of diagrams for first aid lectures, enlaro-ed from the illustrations in Warwick and Tunstall's book on " First Aid to the Injured and Sick," is published by WI ight and Co., of Bristol. Each sheet is about 3 ft. 6 in. in length by 2 ft. broad, and contains several diagrams.. fir t sheets are devoted to anatomical and phYSIologIcal, detaIls, three others show tbe various applications of the trIangular bandage, two illustrate the roller bandage, th.e last shows the modes of controlling arterial h<el11orrhage Il1 dIfferent parts of the body. The various diagrams are clear and good., and the subjects ha\'e been selected with The)" wIiI be found most useful to all who have to gwe anlbulance lectures, and may be confidently recomlT'ended ten sheets are fixed together at the top of a I1letal rod, by whIch t!1ey can be hung, and round which they may be rolled when not 111 lise.

ASK YOUR NEWSA GENT TO SUPPLY "FIRST AID " EVERY MONTH.

St. John Ambulance Brigade. :,IETROPOLITA!\ CORP',

,"1. G.lTl', AL'R:Ii\(j 1)1\'1 The distribution of (lathing to the poor of St. John's Pansh, Clerkenwell, by the Tursing Sisters of ,'t. John's Gate Xursing Division, is close at hand, and we venture on the1r behalf to ask those of our readers who can do so, to them with material to make up, or cast off clothmg, especially such as is. suitable for, boys , The Kursin,g Sisters are hold ina the1r "'ork meetmgs at the St. .r olm s Mission House, Red Lion-street, Clerkenwell, E.C., and parcels may be sent there addressed to the Lady'Supt., .'t. John's Gate Xursing Division.

PROVINCIAL CORPS.

,\0 1-:.1'\(,1"0". The present month has been a very one, so far, for the abo\'e corps. On O,ctober 2 the seventh annual hall was held at the Central Consermti\'e Club, and was, again, a decided success.

On the 8th 1\ o\'em ber the corps had a rou te march to \\'halley and back. Refreshments were served out at Whalley and a very enjoyable afterno0rl: spent.

On the 13th instant the men were Il1vlted to a smokll1g concert, promoted by the 3rd L..\.V. Battery.

Sunday, r6th November, the corps took part 111 the Mayor's state visit to the Church, Chief-Supt. Ogden was in command on all the above occasions.

Tbe pipers' band, in conection with the above corps, has become very popular in the town, and accompanies the corps on all their parades.

BLACKl'OOL. During the progress of the late war the Blackpool representatives, as a body, earned so much credit that it was decided to fittingly honour them when circumstances favoured their gathering together on their return, and a fund was opened with the object of presenting each active service member with a local commemorative badge and to entertaining them to dinner in a body. The pacific state of affairs having allowed the whole of the Blackpool ,'olunteers to return to the to\\'l1, and the commemorative hadges having been presented, the Mayor (Alderman James Howarth) invited the whole of the returned Yolunteers, and the subscribers to the fund of a guinea and upwards, to dinner at the Tower Cafe, on Friday, October 24th.

There was a capital rt::sponse, and the mingling of khaki, and scarlet, and dark blue uniforms with the conventional black of the subscribers, and pri\ ileged friends, gave the gathering quite a picturesque effect.

':'11'. Parr, the manager of the Tower Cafe, provided a thoroughly excellent dinner-the menu, cooking, serving, and floral decoration of the tables being of a recherche character-and the proceedings throughout were of a most enjoyable and comivial nature.

COI.l\I It is with extreme regret that we learn that I'll r. William Wilkinson has resigned the l)residency of the Colne 1)ivision, and, we feel sure, that the members will regret the circumstance when they are informed that it is due to that gentleman's state of health.

The retiring President of the Division has made its \\'()rk so much his own that to him is attributable a great share of credit and esteem in which it is regarded in

the Horouah and district. In so far as Mr. \Yilkinson contributed to the success of the Diyis10n he \\'as assisting a public sen'ice and the :vithdrawal of his labours is a distinct loss to the commul11ty.

J )uring the thirty-eight years that Ir. \ \ 'ilkinson. has resided in Colne he has taken a warm, but comparatLyely passi\'e, interest in local religious and .admir:istrative enterprises. TI1I5 pr?bably h1s. actLve labours on behalf of a seml-publlc orgal11SatlOn like the Ambulance 1)ivision all the more acceptable \\-e are sure first aiders in all !Jarts who have had the pleasure of meeting II'. will regret. to learn of his serious illness, and \\'111 re-echo our \\'Ish that, under the affectionate care of his son, he may be speedly re tared to health. \\-ilkinson has lived in a neighbourhood where ambulance men and women require tact and careful consideratiun, and we know that his kindly (Yenerous nature has com bined to make the work run as as it has done. He is a good all roynd fello\\' and may hi:: son, who also owes m.uch hLm, bc the of prolonging his life and restonng hIm to health.

l)OllUli\C;TOX. - .\. meeting of the memucrs 0[' this division was held in the Board School on Tuesda.y e\ ening, 4th, when there \I ere twenty-two members present. The object of the meeting was to elect a First Officer, in place of J\Ir. A. Davis, has left the neighbourhood. Sergt. Henry C. Nornngton was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy. 1\1r. Norrington has been connected with am bulance work for many years. He the medallion, and was elected sergeant on thc formation of the brigade. The election of a Sergeant to fill up the yacancy was in fa\'our of Ir. .\.. Humphrey, by a large majority.

l)OYER.-This diyision has transferred ils headquartcrs to Dover Hospital. The superintendent will removals of patients (infectious cases excepted) 111 Dm'er, by trained men, and arrange for transport to any part of the country. Applications for removals should be addressed Supt. H. L. Lawes, Chih'erton-terrace, Elms Yale-road, Dover.

FLKEllO:-':. .\ public tea and social gathering was held in the Star Hall on Thursday evening, November 7 th , when about seventy sat down to a capital repast. .\'fLer tea a much larger company was present, and. a most enjoyable time was spent in singing and dancll1g. The following contributed: NIr. H. Burland,. Mrs F. Ilenson, 1iss G. Hind, and [r. Boyd, the mUSIC for danc1l1g being supplied by J. Willis on the piano. During the evening certi ncates were presented to the calldidates of the ladies' and men's classses. :,IISS 1\[ack\\,orlh Dolben had kindly consented to do this, and 11'. J. T. Hawthorne, J.P., took the chair.

Under the auspices of this division a tea and dance were enjoyed on Saturday evening, N ovem ber ISt, at the Old Church Schools. A large number attended, and the evening was a very successful onc. Me. srs. Furnind and Cantrill played [or dancing.

HA\,ERTlILL.-On Saturday afternoon, November 15 th , the interment of Sergt. G. \\'. Davis, late superintendent of stores, look place at the cemetery.

The coffin was com'eyed to the Parish Chcrch upon an ambulance litter, attended by all the membcrs of lhe

N oYem ber, I 9°2. - FIR T

Division under the command of Hon Surgeon and Supt. Goodman and First-Officer P otter.

The cortege was met at the gates of the sacred edi fice by the choir, the \'icar (Re\'. \\', J. Butler, 1\[ \ ,) and the Re\,. .\.. C. Cronneld, At the conclusion or the choral and impressive scn'ice in the church, the ,Ticar gaYe an address. The organist (':'fr. I)ent) played the ])ead March in Sa/(/.

In the procession to the cemetery were representati\,es of the Haverhill School Board, and staff of teachers with whom deceased bad been associated for the pa t twelve years, together with the members of his class.

The committal portion of the service was read by the \ Yicar. The coffin, which was coyered with floral tribute, hore a plate upon which was engrayed: ,. C. \Y. I ),:l\'ies, aged 3I years: died :\Ionday, roth November, 1902."

.\fter the sen'ice at the gra\'e side, each member of the Diyision cast upon the coffin a sprig of t. John' "Test as a last token of re\'erent esteem to their late comrade.

HULL. - The Central .\.mbulance and Central :\"ursing

Divisions of the Hull Corps held a social reunion at the Central Hall, on Monday, 20th October. Chief - Supt. Hopper occupied the chair, su PPOl·ted by the Corkerline), A Ide r man Larard, Alderman Tarman, Councillors '])r. Holder, ])r. Briggs, Chief-Surgeon A. H. Johnstone, Hon. - Surgeon ,\., W. Scott, Lady - Supt. La \'erack, First Nursing Officer and Hon. Secretary ;\lrs. Krause, Supt. J. O. Vaughan, and about 250 111 em bel's ancl friends were present. The hall wa: tastefully decorated for the oce;Slon.

AID. -

and prizes for efficiency and regular attt.ndance in the Corps work. Refre hments were prO\'ided and the e\'enin(Y passed pleasantly <lmid t song and music. "

On the :lith October, the Xursing I liyi ion held their annual meeting at their Headquarters, Technical .' c hool, Hull. 'upt. La\'erack mo encourJ.ging report, which showed that the DI\'1 Lon ha made most remarkable pro(Yress. The I )iyi, ion has a member -hip of three honorary sur(Y eons, one lady-. uperintendent, four nursing officers, and 77 nursing. isters - of whom 5 had made themseh'es efficient by attending oYer 12 drills, inspection and examin 1tion. There were tIYent\ i Lers on duty on the Coronation 1)ay in the three parks. 'T\\'ent\, cases of first aid were treated': and on the Fair days roth to the r6th October, twenty Sister. were on and fifty case were duly attended to. They had made' O\'er 350 yisit to the sick poor.

Seventeen Nursing. isters recei\'ed attendance prize for attending all the t\renty-three meeting during the year - 1st October, 1901, to 30th Septemb :: r 1902.

The officer and members ha\ e to regret the loss of

We 22 5 R.N Press

their First Officer (\Ir Hare) \\'bo worked for the good eau e twenty YeaL, and also their ;rhird Offic e r C\lrs. Holmes) through una\'oidable cau e 1'l.:H;Hl.EY. The annlial meeting of th e Keighley I )i\'isioll of the S.I \.B. was helel on October 2 yd at the ,1 v end ish -s t r e e t ('hapel. The ':'byor (}'Ir. H. C. Longsdol1), president of the niyitcll/,.J) ,ion was in the chair. :\11'. C. 1hrwin' rceff 1/-2.. port showed that at the end of the 1)i\ i-

Let's gi\'e a c heer for bra\'e Captain \\ ' ells, \\ ' ho lends LlS his friendly aid,

sion's I1fth year ther had increa ed in men;bership to 104. There had been tweh'e occu-

Long may he li\ e good instruction to gi\ e, To the lads of the Fire Brigade. ions for public dut)" eulogistically of the organisation and promised his support.

The Sheriff, in particular, s po k e most

An especially pleasing part of the evening was reached when the Sheriff handed a handsome dressing-case and illuminated address to Mrs. Hare, in the name of the officers and mem bers of the corps, as a token of re pect and appreciation of her twenty years sen'ice to the good cause, she having resigned the position of First Lady Officer and Hon. Treasurer of the Nursing Diyision; and also to the Third Lady Officer (Mrs. Holmes) a very pretty silver bowl for roses on an ebony stand, with suitable inscription as a mark of appreciation of her work.

lVIrs. Hare, in thanking the members for their kindness, said ambulance work did the worker good, and on the other hand, good was done to others, Both ladies referred to the work as one of love, and each regretted relinquishing their posts through una\'oidable causes.

The Sheriff and "\ lderman Larard presenter to the Nursing Sisters, and Mrs. J armen to the men, certificates and medallions on be h alf of the Centre, also service stars

and si'\t)' - eight ea ' es in all. The resignation of the Chief Superintendent (':'Injor Marriner) was a cause of deep regret to the members or the Division.

There \\'a a balance now in lnnd of £22 9 . I d., the total receipts having been £6'2 5s. '2d ,\ heart)' \ o.te of thanks was passed to the Mayor for h1s \'aluable aId during the last thre e years. The report, balance-sheet, &c., were adopted,

The number of teams who took part in the annual contests this year for the Cros Geld Shield whieh was won last year by the Kendal J)mSLon, exceeded in number that of any year since its inauglll:ation. More than twenty teams from the principal towns 111 the North-Western district competed. By a series. of preliminary tests this number was reduced to four, ,nL, Oldham, 'Yarrington, Burnley and Kendal, and the i1l1al competition took place at \\'arrington on when after an unusually se' ere test in 7'/7'(' 7.'0(1', practLcal work and

-FIRST

drill the Kendal team again came out at top, this being the first time in the history of the shield that anyone team has won it two years in succession. The judges were Lieut.-Colonel Trimble, YD., C.M.G. and Supt.-Secretary A. L. Garnett, of the district staff.

LEIGH (Lancashire).-On Wednesday, October nnd, Mr. R. R. Meacock, the superintendent of the newly formed L eig h Division of the S.J.A.B. entertained the members to a "hot-pot" supper at the Rope and Anchor Hotel. About thiry were present.

Alderman Fairclough, the president, afterwards took the chair, a nd Li e ut. Leach, and Drill -Instructor Sergt. Fitzgerald, were also present.

The health of the Superintendent was proposed by the Chairman, and suitably acknowledged.

The health of Sergt. Fitzgerald, who had done a good deal of gratuitous work in drilling the men was also drank, and the Volunteer Officers were thank ed for allowing the Brigade the use of their Drill Hall. Alderman Fairclough was also thanked for his services to the Brigade. During the evening songs were rende red. Corporal T. Guest officiating as song master.

OXFORD. - The first annual competltlOn for the Officers' Challenge Shield competed for by N.C.O.'s privates of the Oxford Division of S.J.A.B. took place m the Drill Hall, Oxford. Points were awarded for regular and punctual attendance, viva-voce examination in first aid drill, elementary anatomy, the principles of transport and rapid and correct application of first aid-practical. provided with uniforms had points deducted for dIrty appearance and for incorrect wearing of uniform during the year.

Dr. Freeborn, at the conclusion of the competition, said he had taken all the trouble possible in judging and he hoped they would be satisfied with the result. He had examined them on similar questions throughout in order to compare their knowledge, taking it as it stood that day. The competit ion had resulted in the marks being awarded as follows:- T. G. Smith, 88; H. H. Carter, 7 I; F. Luckett, 69; W. Hemming, 59; G. Holliday, 58; J. Hope, 53; G. F Cooper, 50; J. Greenaway, 49· Dr. Freeborn said Smith, who came out on top, rec eived 70 marks from him, and, his total being the highest out of a maximum of 125, he therefore won the Shield. All the men had done uncommonly well, but Smith had done better. The medical gentleman then presented the shield to Mr. Smitb, who was heartily congratulated on bis success.

Supt. Foort proposed a vote of thanks to Dr. Freeborn for the time and care he had spent over tbe competition, this was carr ied with acclamation.

SHREWSBURY -A successful concert in aid of the funds of tbe local division was held in the Music Hall on Wednesday, November 5th. Among those who contributed to an excellen t programme were Mr. R. Lloyd Roberts, organ solo, Mr. A. Hickinbotbam, Miss Cooper, Mrs. Hugh Rimmer, Mr. C. IV. Terry, Dr. Price, Miss Kittermaster, Iiss Butler Lloyd, Mr. Bntler, Mr. W. Ebrall, organ solo, and the Artillery Band, conducted by Mr. J. C. Bowdler. Mr. T .H. Woolston, assistant commissioner of the brigade spoke on its work and was followed by Dr. Cureton.

TANGYE'S LTD.-A lecture in connection with this division was delivered on November 2nd in the dining ball, Cornwall Works, by Dr. Isaac Pitt. Mr. George Tangye

AI D.- November, 1902.

presided. The subject. was "Bacteria:, or Our Unseen Foe." The lecture was Illustrated by slIdes, and was made extremely interesting to tbe large audience Votes of thanks were accorded to the lecturer and chaIrman.

St. Andrew's Ambulance Association.

PERTH.-A meeting of the St. Andrew's Association (Perth Centre) was held on 31St, lt1 the office of Messrs. Mitchell and Logan, solICItors. It was unanimously agreed to appoint Dr. Stirlin.g. as Medical Examiner to examine the classes. The cond ltlOns regarding the annual competition for the Perthshire Cup,. which is to take place on the 24th January 1903, were when it was agreed to substitute the new Imhtary drill in place of the old manual stretcher dnll.

The new ambulance wagon whicb has been presented to the Perth Centre of the S.A.A.A. was formally handed over on the 1st instant. The interesting function took place in the ] )rill Hall. Tb e Lord Provost Macgregor presided. Among others present were Sir Robert and Lady Pullar, Mr. Herbert S. Pullar, Bailie Brand and Mrs. Brand, and a large number of the members of the medical faculty and other prominent citizens.

Lord Provost Macgregor, in the course of a few remarks, referred to the magnificent gift which l\1r. Pullar bad presented to the P,erth Centre, and spoke of the nobility of character whIch .he had shown lt1 t.hus perpetuating th e memory of hiS fall.en 111 South Africa in that pal ticular form. HIS lordshIp the gift on behalf of the members of the ASSOCIatIOn, and called for three cbeers for 1r. Herbert Pullar and Mrs. Pullar.

Mr. H. Punar, who was received with great applause, thanked his Lordship for the very kind remarks be had made respecting bimself, and, continuing, referred to the RA.M.C. in South Africa, which, he said, had been severely criticised, but, from his experience, he must say that they attended the wuunded with much care He trusted the wagon would be of much use when necessity demanded, but that tbat would be as seldom as possible.

At the conclusion, a demonstration of the metbods of using the van was given by a team from the railway and a team from Messrs. Pullars' 'Works, tbe one captamed by 1r. J. D. Smith, and the other by Mr. Geo. Pullar.

Through the want of kn?wledge how to use a " shoot," one lady met with a fatal aCCIdent and another was senously injured at a fire at the George Hotel, Scarborough on the 23th ult.

3: e

LIFE-SAVING GUARD FOR TRAMWAY CARS.-A Cathcart gent leman has invented a life-saving gua:d tramway cars, which it is intended should prevent senOllS mJury to anyone falling in front of a tram car.

People's Palace, Thursday, Nov. 27, 1902.

GRAND in Aid ofthe Funds of the ToynbeeHall Division (No, Dis trict) of the ST, JOHN A;\lB LJ LANCE BRIGADE. Arti stes: Madam ALICE l\IOTTERWAY, Soprano; l\Iadam ELLA JACKSON, Contralto; 1\[r. SAM.UEL l\IASTERS, Tenor; 1\'1r, BARRY LINUO ,Bass; Mr. J. SYDNEY LEETE, Baritone; Mr. BARCLAY ; Mr. R. H, 1I01'K1NS, Silver Hells (who has had the honour of perfortl1lng- before the Hoyal Solo Vio!in, 1IIr. R, Ocg-an Recital to 8, Mr. R. H. HILL-JAMES, 1I1us, Doc, Pianist, Mr. MALCOLM JOHNSTON. Admission, 6d" IS" 2 5" and 25, 6d, (Reserved), Doors Open 7.30, commence 8 p.m. C. Statham, Hon. Sec., 6r, Grafton-street, E

November, 1902, -F IRST

Railway Ambulance.

BLYTH.-The annual meeting of the Blyth Branch of the Nortb-Eastern Railway Ambulance Association took place on November 2nd, in the Blyth Railway Station. Mr. J. W. Storey presided.

The Secretary (Mr. W. Hodgson) read the annual report, which showed a balance in hand of £ I 2S. 3 d. It was voted as being satisfactory.

Ths election of Officers resulted in the appointment of Mr. J. W. Storey as president, and Mr. W. Hodgson as secretary Mr. Hodgson was also elected a delegate to the district meetings.

1\.. circular from Mr. Geo. S, Gibb, the presicent ot orth-Eastern C e ntre, on the annual ambulance competitions was also submitted, in which Mr. Gibb stated tbat it was very ipleasing to be able again to record the continued interest which the Company's Staff had taken during th e past year in this humane work.

SAWLEy,-A very pleasant gathering took place, on October 31st, at the Harrington Arms Inn, under the presidency of Mr. A. Nicholson. There was a large attendance. Certificates and medallions for proficiency in first aid were presented to twenty-eight members of the Midland Railway Sheet Stor es Classes, wbich have been held under the able tuition of Dr. Bloomer. During the evening Mr. Constantine, of Derby, gave a brief resume of the inception and work of the Midland Railway Ambulance Corps. Mr. W. Walker also gave a very interesting account of his experience in ambulance work during the late South African War.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

Pompier ladders which, as is known, are greatly in use by Continental Fire Brigades for saving life and property from fires, are now being experimented with at the Headquarters of the L.c. C. Metropolitan Fire Brigade inSo.uthwark Bridge-road, S. E. The result has already been so satlsfact<;)[,Y that officers specially qualified have been selected to VISIt tbe various London Fire Stations for the purpose of imparting tbe necessary instn:ction to the On account of structural projectIOns beneath WIndows the Pompier ladder has not been found applicable to buildings in the City, but it is expected to be of serVIce 111 the suburbs.

AI

D.-

FIRST AID IN TIIE FIRE SER\'ICE. By William Ettles, :'Il.D. To be obtained of Horace S. Folker, Hon. General Secretary ational Fire Brigades' Union, Tnnity Chambers, Guildford.

As there are so many text-books on first aid at present available for those who wish to pursue the study of this subject, some excuse must be given for a fresh one, therefore we cannot do better than reproduce tbe opening words of the preface :-" So many excellent guides to ambulance work are now at the disposal of the learner that it may at first sight seem superfluous to add another. This book, however, is addressed only to members of the Fire Service, wbose needs are of a somewhat special character." This, then, is the reason "'hy this book is put before ambulance students, and after perusal we are bound to admit it is a good one.

Dr. Ettles is well known as the Cbief Officer of the Ambulance Department of the Fire Brigades' Union, and as such, has been entrusted with the organisation of this branch, and judging from the book it is apparent that he is well up in the subject Although this book is written for members of the fire brigade, we can specially commend it to all first aiders, inasmuch as it displays much more originality than most of these books, and the diagrams (drawn, we belie\'e, by the doctor himself) are, \\'ith one or two exceptions, easily understood, and well explained in the context.

We would like to point out some defect s in the details, which will give Dr. Ettles the chance of correcting in future editions, of which we prophesy there will be many, The diagram of the circulation, which, on the whole is excellent-and especially the heart, seems to us to gwe to the student that the arterial blood goes down the nght SIde of the body only, and the venous blood returns on,ly on the left \Ve ha\ 'e found in e:-..aminatinns that many pupils have thl ImpreSSIon, and we fan cy it is deri\ ed from some diagram they ba\': seen. \Ve notice that the tips of the fingers are recommend ed ft?r dilJ'ital compression of the br3.chial artery, and no mentIon IS of pressure by the which is, quite as effi cien t, if not more so, and not so lIkely to caUSE: As compression of the arleries of tbe lower extremity, a tourlllgu,et on the femoral is recommended, but the exact place to put It IS not mentioned. In Fig. IO, on page 30, it is shown as placed in the middle of the thigh; that is, in Hunter's canal; Just the posit ion where the whole limb must be strangulated before you get any pressure on the femoral. No menti<:m is made of the popliteal artery:, or pressure on that, artery 111" the ham On page _p, speakmg of scalp wounds, It says:- If ha\ e a O'ood supply of strapplJ1g you may proceed to use It. The.n the leaf in larrre type "Avoid using plaster. " \Ve thmk It would be as well j["'the were more explain,ed. On page 65, in speaking of ribs, there IS no mentIon of the arm being- placed in a slmg. Havin O' drawn attention to these errors, If they may be so styled, we proceed to mention the points are ,in our opinion most excellent. \V,e are glad to see IJ1 speakmg of bleeding from a vancose vem, that Dr. Ettles does n<?t mend the useless bandages abo\'e and belo."· the bleedmg He shows by diagrams are v:ery plall1, a method of. pocket hankerchiefs fO,r splmts, slings,. &c',; and Fig. _I, showing two hanker chlefs as arm sll11g, IS good The treatment of fractured thigh by means of a scal1l1g ladder, 011 paO'e 69 is also good and no\'el. , Tile cllapter on Poisoning, although som:what short, IS oood. The memory of the ambulance IS not,burdened a quantity of unnecessary .detall, :vhdst there IS ,enough information given to show ",hat IS reqUIred to be done m these emergencies. " This is a capital book for work" we C01dially re commend it to all first alders; and we thInk It, .Wl ll be extremely useful to those who wish :nter for 111 this class of first aid. The cost of It IS small and Wlthm the reach of everyone.

F I RS T A I D

NO f'EJIRER 20, I9 02

Yes, at last the authorities have recogAt Last! nised the work whi ch was done on their behalf by the Order of St. John and its departments. Tardy although this recognition is, better late than never, and although we could have wished that the splendid sen'ice rendered had been more fully recognised; still we must hope that others who are equally entitled to recognition for their share in the arduous labour entailed by the war, have simply had their claims deferred, and that at no distant date they also will receive the due reward meted out by a grateful country for services so ungrudgingly rendered. To the present recipients of the honours we offer our hearty congratulations, and we feel assured that every first aider will unite with us in the wish that Sir HERBERT PERROTT, Sir JOHN FURLEY, Col. ROWllLER and Col. TRli\lRLE may long be spared to wear th e distinctions that th ey have so honourably earned. Nor must we fOlget Sergt.-Major BAKER, who appears in the list as having earned the Distinguished Conduct Medal. We believe that all memb ers of the brigade will rejoice:lt this, and couple with the former wish the desire that h e soon may be restored to health. Personally we feel a certain amount of spec ial pleasure in these congratulations, for as our readers will remember, in our last month 's issue we bitterly deplored the fact that the brigade had been so long unrecognised wh e n honours were being so freely distributed e lsewhere. The speedy realisation of our desire is therefor e all the more gratifying to the conductors of this TournaI.

T h e Ro y al P ro g ress .

THE arrangement made by the S.J.A.B. on the occasion of the visit of their Majesties the King and Queen to the City and South London were admirable. There were about 500 members of the Metropolitan Corps on duty and about 800 from the provinces. The whole being under the command of the Deputy-Commissioner of the No. District, Inspector-Ge neral Belgrave Tinnis, R.N., M.D. The London members mustered at St. ] ohn's Gate and thence proceeded to their various stations, the members from the provinces mustering on the Em bankment whence they were marched to their stations by detachments.

The first thing that struck an observer was the patience of the crowd. Police placards told them that even seath.olders must be in their places before ten, and, in anticipatIOn o.f a great cru.sh, many people were in their places early 111 the mornmg In most other countries of the world there would have been some diversion provided for the crowd; but not so in our sober English land Now and then troops would pass, and then all eyes would be to point ;. but for the most part it was a weary, patIent Walt all the time Yet there was a smile on every

AI D. - N:ovember, 1902.

face; and it appeared certain that the King 's lieges had come out for an outing fortified by the King's good humour.

The total number of cases treated during the day was 1,149, of which no less than r, I 30 cau.sed by the pressure of the crowd or the fatIgue of waJtll1g. Several soldiers fainted during the day.

The one fataky reported during the day was that of a woman, who died, it is believed, from h ea rt disease after returning from the procession.

It may be mentioned that many of the officers, men and nursing sisters frnm the provinces spent two consecutive nights in railway trains. Prior to their return they wer E: entertained to a cold collation at the various depots of the British Tea Table Company, th e catering giving univ e rsal satisfaction.

Honours for the Order of St. J o hn.

HI S l'V[AJESTY THE Kmo has been graciously pleas ed to give orders for the following appointments:

To be additional Members of the Civil ()jvision of th e Third Class or Companions of the Most Honourahl e Order of the Bath:

Colonel Cyril William Bowdl e r Bowdl e r.

Colonel Sir Herbert Charles Perrott, Bart., lat e 3rd l'attalion the Buffs (East Kent Regiment).

Sir John Furley, Knt.

To be an additional Member of the Third Class or Companion of the Most Distinguished Ord e r of Michael and Saint George: Lieut.-Colonel C. J. Trim ble, V.D.

St. Jolill Amlm/altce Bn:!?,ade.

To have the Distinguished Conduct M eda l :First Class Supern.umerary Officer C. W Baker.

\iVe also offer our heartiest congratulations to Colonel Gildea who, we understand, is to receive the honour of Knighthood. The Colonel who is well known as one .of "Tommy's" best friends has thoroughly earned the dIStinction co nferred upon him, and all who know and recog nis e his earnest work will 2ndorse our congratulations.

"BAKER" TEST li\WNIAL CONCERT.-A committee to promote a complimentary benefit to Mr. C. W. Baker " Cecil Graeme," late Supt. of Midland Railway Division, .::i.J.A.B., and ex-Sergt.-Major "Langman Hospital, " has been formed and a preliminary meeting will be held at the "Coach and Horses " Hotel, St. John's-square, Clerk e nwell, on Monday, 30th inst, at 8 p.m. All interested are invited to a tt end.

PF:NIU1H.-A special general meeting of the Penrilh and District Ambulance Corps, both divisions (ladies and gentlemen), was h e ld at the Headquarters, S. Andrew 's Parish Rooms, Penrith, on October 22nd. Supt. Yeates presided. The meeting lasted two hours, chiefly spent in discussing the new rules. These provide for the appointment of officers and sergeants who hold their posts permanently, unless removed by vote at the annual meeting. Every mem ber is expected to attend a course of lectures and an examination i.n first aid each year and also to put in a minimum of twelve attendances annually. The men pay 7S 6d. towards the cost of uniform, in addition to an annual subscr iption of half-a-crown.

November, 1902. -FIRST

AI D.- 73

pass through in one minute. If these were fitted to all the high buildings in Dov e r, every chance La save life from fir e would be given. On the first of each month it is proposed to havc fire practice at the Orphanage

National Fire Bri g ade s Union.

A me e ting was held at th e Town Hall, Le'l ton, on the 17 th inst., for the purpose of forming a committee o f t he Eastern ])istrict of the N.F. H.U. with a view of having torchlight proc ess ions and making for the Widows and Orphans Fund of th e UnIOn. EIghteen fire officers put in an appearance, and Capt. Hallows, late of the Walthamstow Brigade, was voted to the chaIr. It was decided to hold the first parad e at L ey ton on loth Janumy, 1903. Mr. Arthur T. Dal e was appointed. the treasurer, and Capts. Mill er and Woolard hon. secretanes. -

EASTER),' DISTRICT. - At a meetmg of the district, held October 25th at th e Great Eastern Hotel , Liverpoo.lstreet, the following reso lution was :.-" meeting wishes to exp res s its great dlssatlsfactlOn With th e arrangements for the timekeeping, judging, and general programme at the rec e nt Margate In vie.w ?f the great expenses entailed on competmg brigades, It lS that this district can no lo nger compe te unless th e Ul110n will give an assu ranc e that th e arrangements will not b.e as haphazard and ina ccurate as before. In to ke ep in g, thi s meeting cons iders that professlOnal timekeepers should be emp loyed instead of fire chosen in many instances upon the ground. also hop es that the conditions of each competltlOn WIll. be more stable and not liable to be changed at a short notI ce, and that int e rpr e ta tion of sllch co nditions be not le ft to indiviclu:11 judges."

.--.

P rovi nc ial Fire Br ig ad es.

SToRn-oRll.-Th e annual compe tition of th e Bishop 's Stortford United Distri ct Coun,cil Fire.Brigade was held in that town on October 29th. fh e dnlls consisted of one-man engine, one-man hydrant, escape and four -men team drills. For the best aggregate 111 the three one-man drills, a handsome challenge cup pr ese nt ed by J. Barclay, Esq , J.P. This was .won. hreman Martwell, who had the pleasure of holdrng It 111 the years 1899 and 1900. The drills generally wer e well. ca rried out, and it is evident that the members of the ?ngad e are enthusiastic firemen. The Judge was 1\1r. A. 1. Dal e, and the tim ekeep e r s, Capt T. C. Charnley and Hon. Capt. 1<'. Glasscock. After the competitions the men and officers adjourned to the e ngine a nice SUl?per. \vas provided, and speeches and JOVI3.l!ty hl1lsh e d a very ploAtable and pleasant day.

])ovER. - The Merryweather chute for saving life from fire on high buildings, and whi.ch has, been fitted to Gordon Boys Orphanage, was tried on Saturday, Novemb e l ] st, by Captain Knott and Sergeant Scutt of the Doyer Fire Brigade, wh e n th e whole of the J06 boys were passed through in a very short time, and also one of the and male attendants. It was found that. 18 could easily

H A\'[)SWORTI-f The fire brigade held th e ir annual dinner on Saturday, November 1st Capt. \\ '. Roberts presiding. Chid Supt. H. B eck, S.J. i\.B., replying to the toast of "The Army a nd Navy and Auxiliary Forces," said 2,000 ambulance men were sent to the front during the war, but if th e country sho uld requir e their help in the future they would have no diffi c ult y in placing ro,ooo members of th e S.J.A.B. in th e field. During the even ing Captain W. Roberts and Councillor A. Price we re eac h presented with a framed portrait of the brigade in recognition of their valuable services. Lieut. Evans also received the long service medal of the I.F.B.U., which was hand ed to him by Mrs. Rob e rt s. This officer also received a medal from the Di s trict Council, ?vIrs. Price making the representation.

ENF [ELIJ.-.\ very interesting half-hour took place at th e h eadquarters of the Enfield Volunteer Fire Brigade, on Tue sday evenin g, Novemb er 4th, when its members were presented with very handsome pipes and cases for th e manner in which th ey acted at the late fire in Bush Hill Park. Mr. J. H. Sanders (Chairman of the Council) took the chair, and Capt. Lock was in the vice-chair.

Ru. HIJEN.-An estimate has been received by the Urban Distri c t Council from the brigade for repairs to the eng in e, amounting to 1., 10, and for uniforms and other r eq uisit es £5 8s. It has been reso lve d that the brigade be authorised to expe nd these amounts. It was also resolved that th e surveyor be instructed to confe r with the brigade and provide suitable furniture for the new station. :vfr. Bazely asked if th e furniture had been supplied, a nd l\Ir. Knight replied in the affirmative. Mr. Bazel), asked if it was proposed to ha\'e any formal opening of the new fire station) Th e chairman thought th ey could c;carce ly raise that question at this point.

Wl'\"n SOR -The ch ef officer of the Wind sor brigade has been asked to allow his "History of the British Fire Service" to be incorporated in the " R epo rt of the Fire Services of the World, " which is being compiled for presentation to the German Governm e nt by th e officials of the Intern a tional E:-.hibition and Congress which was held at Berlin year.

BR.WER\, \T FIRf<:s Royal Society for the Protection of Life from Fire ha s awarded its silver medal to Major Fox, chief officer, and Richard H ill man, Allison, and ,V. Shephard, members of the London Salv.age Corps, for their gallant 3.ctio l1 dur ing the fire .?n premises of the General Electnc Company, Queen "\ Ictona-street, on June 10th, which 1055 of nine lil es. It will. be rf'membered th at :Ylalor F ox WIth hiS men mounted t<? the I.oof of the building and got the rope s into po sition by whIch FIreman \Ve s was enabled to reach and rescue tl\"O of the gir ls The silver medal and two guineas are also to Constable G. M'Donald, Hull City fC?r IllS daring re sc ue of three persons from a burnin g b1111dmg 111 Dock-street, Hull on Alwust 26th. The constable bad a yery naITOI\ escape, as after craw ling- on hands and knees through s moke into a room where one of the occupants l.ay, closed behind him and he had difficulty in find1l1g It agall1. Certificates and two guineas each a re awarded to 1I1 spectors Hernett and Sherr:ng, City Police, and to Perc), Bromley, warehouseman, for their bravery in savi ng a woman from a hurning building in Falcon-street on August 13 th

SPECIALLY COXTRIBUTED. The British Fire Service. *

By T. G. DY Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade, of Executive of the Grand InterJlattOnal COlmct! of Ftre Bricrades, the .LVatio71al Fire Brigades' Ullion, and tlze Brltish Fire Prevention Committee)' .Ll1ember of the London Chamber of Commerce Fire Protedioll Committee, and .LJfember of Honour of the French, Belgian, and Austrian Fire Brigades' FederattOns

(Contz"lmed from page 58.)

IN 1828 the Fire Engine Establishment was formed

In 1830 the Lighting and Watching Act was extended to the ,vhole of the towns and districts in England and ,Vales.

• In 1833 "inspectors" were appointed under this Act -where its pro\'isions were adopted by a meeting of ratepayers-who were empowered "To and keep fire engines, with pipes and other utensils proper for the same for the use of the parish, and to prm'ide a proper or places for keeping the same, and to place such engines under the care of some proper person and to make him orthem su ch allowance for hIS or their trouble as might might be thought reasonable "

On January 1St, 1833, the London Fire Engine Establishment came into existence and James Braidwood, from Edinburgh, became its First Chief Officer.

In 1847 the Towns Police Clauses Act was passed. It provided that" Commissioners" (officials who might b e entrusted by any such local Act) were empowered "To purchase or provide such engines for extinguishing fire, and such water buckets, pipes and other appurtenances for such engines, and such fire escapes and other implements for safety or use in case of fire, and to purchase, keep, or hire such horses for drawing such engines, as they may think fit, and to build, provide, or hire places for keeping such engines with their appurtenances, and to employ a prop <> r number of persons to act as firemen, and to give such firemen and other persons such salaries and rewards for their exertions in cases of fire as they might think fit. They were also empowered to send the engines and firemen outside the limits of the local or special Act to extinguish fires, and in such a case to charge the owner with the expense thereby incurred, and with payment for the use of the engines and attendance of the firemen and any difference between the "Commissioners" and the owner as to charges and as to the propriety of sending engines and firemen, 'Ivas to be determined by two Justices, whose decision should be final.

By the Town Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854, and the Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act, 1862, Scotland and Ireland are respectively in a similar position with regard to fire arrangements as England is by the Town Police Clauses Act, 1847.

The Metropolitan Fire Brigade Act was passed in 1865, ((whereby the duty of extinguishing fires and pro-

"* A short history of the British Fire Service, with the principal points, culled from the various Acts of Parliamen t, relating to Fire Proteclion and Fi re Preyention from the earliest times; compiled for the Committee of the International Fire Brigades' Exhibition, Berlin, for presentation to the German Government.

tecting life and property in case of fi:e within the be entrusted to the Board of "-orks

In 1867 the Poor Law Amendment Act the Yestry of any parish ("'here th e re is no Town CouncIl, Local Board, or other authority competent to prm-ide fire. t:-c.) to gi\'e to notIce Slmllar powers to that gl\'en to Commissioners in the Town Police Clauses A ct

By Section 66 of the Public Health Act (1875), it is enacted '( That eyer)' "Urban .l..uthority shall cause fire plugs and all necessary works, machinery,. and assistance for securing an efficient supply of \yater Il1 case of fire, to be pro\-ided and maintained, and for this purpo e they may enter into any agreement with any ,Yater or person; and they shall paint or mark on the bu!1dll1gs and walls within the streets ,yords or marks near to such fire plugs to denote the situation there of, and do such other things for the purposes aforesaid as they may deem expedient."

The powers contained in all these Acts baye n ol\' become yested in the 'Urban District Councils, Rural District Councils and Parish Councils, as th e case 111a) be In 1888, by the passing of the Lo cal Goyernment .\.ct, the L.e.e. took m-er th e control and managem e nt of the 11etropolitan Fire Brigade In 1895, the False Fire Alarms Bill was passed. Thi s imposes a penalty of £ 20 on anyone who shall give a fals e alarm of fire t o the fire brigade

The Acts her e enumerated, are all that the LegiSlature has clone up to the present for such an important work as saving life and property from fire. It \\'ill be noticed that with the exception of it being imperatiye on the authorities to insert fire plugs or hydrants in the \later mains and to prm'ide a ufficient supply of water, eYe r) other item, such as obtaining fire escapes, fire e ngin e, hose, &c., is optional. Notwithstanding this un atisfactory state of the law, most towns are well supplied with material and have efficient fire brigades. The great credit for this - in almost every instanc e-is due to volunteer exertions, and to the Volunteer Fire Sen'ice may be giyen the credit that the country is so well supplied with m ea ns for coping WIth fires it is they who ha\'e spurred on lo ca authorities, until a fairly satisfactory state of tlungs has been arrived at.

The British fire service as a whole, has mad e great progress 1887 when the Kational Fire Brigades Union was formEd in commemoration of the Jubilee of Queen Victoria, who graciously inspected 2,500 representatives from all parts of the kingdom, at Windsor, in June 1887 this inspection gave a fillip to the service and many towns and districts date the formation or imprm'ement of their fire brigade from this year.

Uniformity of drill, unifOlm, meetings, lectures and discussions, competitions, &c., were severally brought about by those who formed the National Fire Brigades Union, whose membership rapidly increased. Captain Shaw, the Chief Officer of the M F B., became its first President, and u nder his rule both the professional and Volunteer element were drawn together, and both derived benefits in various ways

At a review, held at the Crystal Palace, in July 1890, the German Emperor, the Prince and Princess of , Vales, and the Royal .Family witnessed a large gathering ot fire brigades.

Other reviews, inspections, &c., where held in various parts of he country. H. R. H. "Princess Beatrice and H.R.H P r ince Christian and many of the nobi li ty-

::\'oyember. 1902. - FI R T especially the Duke of ::'Iarlborough-interested themseh'es in the Fire en-icc.

encampments were in tituted under the auspice of the Xational Fire Brigades 1; pOll upon military lines, 'I"here the Xational Challenge Trophi es for yariou drills are competed for annually.

An International Fire Brigade Congre "'as held in London, in 1893, and was attended by a large number of delegates from both the Continent, Canada and .Ameri ca To be cOllcluded.

The History and Development of Manual , Steam and Motor Fire Engines.

By CHA T. CRO\\'DEX ::'I.L.A.F.E .A. &:c., &c (COlltilllted

from /,ag( 6 r.)

FIG. 57 shows a self-propelled steam fire eng ine constructed by ::'1r. 'Y. Roberts, of ::'1 iIhYall, London, in 1862. This undoubtedly ,,'as the first self-propelled steam fire engine e,'er constructed in this country, or perhaps the world. Self-propelled steam file engines made in -\.m erica had to be assisted by men and horses in the te e ring. This machine was dri"en by pitch chains, which operated the dri\ ing wh ee ls hy means of frirtion clutches. In turning

A I D.- i5

it o.wn steam-it being a three wheel machine, hayin (T two dnnng whe els and one teering wheel.

In r87i rs. hand and on attempted to con truct a noyelt\· for the Pari Exhibition in the hape of a elf-propelled team fire engine dri,'in(T a hind wh eel from a crank haft by mean of a pitched chain, in a imilar manner to th e .\.merican eno-ine of the keag type.

corners the inside clutch was disengag e d, leaving it a free wheel on the axle or vier: 7'ersd. This machine propelled itself from oyer London Bridge to Woolwich

This engine wa once tested, and on the lil'"t trial became unmanageable and knocked a brick wall down. Ne edle s to say the engine n cyer went to the Pari Exhibition, but was cOlwerted back to a horse dra\yn e ngin e and sold as s llch.

Fier. was built by ':::chmid, of Zurich, in the year 1878, reputed to haye trayclled from Zurich to Paris in 12 days. The actual running was 8 days, but it ,,'a capable of attaining a 'peed of I:! miles an hour. From

F1L:. 00.

the condition or the tyrcs one can quile belic'I'e that this little engine accompli hed the journey. , ( .'

Fig. 59 hoI\' one of l\1errywenther s tc h enaine cOtwcrted into a motor by the orth Eastern Railyway Co. in 1398 f?r lise at doc.k , and is fittt?d with a. three-cylincler l11glc actll1g engtl1e and a tll'O speed gear at speed' of 5 10 11111.e an .hour.

Fig. 60 shows a front new of thl engine. (To be (011 t/I/{/{'{1. )

FIG. 57.

FIG 58.

Arse n a l, where it wor k ed on a fire and back again u nder

FIL;. 59.

ASK YOUR NEWSAGENT TO SUPPLY "FIRSTA ID " hiVERY MONTH.

Letters to the Editors.

IVe me iJ7 no 7Oa)' respo n sible for tile opiniolls txpl-essed. or Ihe ,-lalell/ ll1 iliad,', by Corre:j>olldell!.f.-EDITORS.

CHEAP OUTFIT FOR RAILWAY SERVANTS.

Ih:AR SIRs,-The writer having been asked to uggest \I hat a rticle s would best form a cheap outfit suitable for a railway engineman or guard, to ca rry in the basket which so invariably accompanies them when on duty, and to briefly des c ribe the use of each, s ubmitted the followin g as essential s :-

071e. 2{ iI/cit Roller l1mzdage, cost 2d.-Chiefly for retaining c1re.ss ings of cotton wool or lint on flesh wound s , or for securing s plmts. 1n the first Instance, the safest mode of fastening is to leav c a free end lon g enough to a little more than half-enwrap the injured part. Cut this end in half lengthwise backwards ( F ig. r ).; tie an ordina.ry knot at apex, and, whilst holding the end whI c h can be stramed, taut; c arry the other in the oppositc direction,. until it can be tied to the other end with a reef knot on the thIckest avaIlable par,t of the bandaging; or it may be sl mply .sec ured WIth safety pms, or a piece of I inch roller used tape-wIse.

One) /nell Roller lJanda};e , cos t Id. - For securing dres sIngs or s plmts on fingers, or as tape where such may be de si rable.

One,71-iangular Bandage, cosl 6d.-Principally for use a s but also for any other of the many purposes for whIch deSI g ned.

One .Ca me/-hair in QuiLL, cost 2) For gently and cleansmg wound WIth antI-sceptic solution; m burns and sca lds to reach beneath any loose han o'm g, damaged skin. ( .B. - Do not op e n bleb s formed l;y burns or scalds )

()11e Ounce Boracic P 07.Cl d er, cos t Jd - This should be kept in

AID.- Novembe r, 1902

a small tin, and used the of o.ne teasl?oonful to one pint of water, to make an.tl-septIc so l utlC?n. DIssolve by pouring small quantIty of boIlll1g water on It, and when thorouo-hlv incorporated, di lute to requirements. Apply as warm as not likely be an actual source of pain.

Onc O If17 ce Hora cic COltOll T1/001 ros t / thc quantity of this might better be: as as the box would hold after other fitments have been put in. Use over hurns and as thickly as material available, and space to cover, wIll permIt; then bandage closely WIth roller or trian o- ular bandage. Aim to exclude all air getting to the injured bpart I may not be out of order to add here that the use of carron oIl, or any other non-anti-septi c similar medium should be avoided 7/possible. ( See the very yaluable article this subject by Dr. William in FIRST AlD, for May last. )

Oll e ()ul/ce /JoraClc Lml, cos t A -d. - Thi s is more suited for use over cuts s uchlike wounds, afterwards bandaging; but, as ne e d may Impel, the lint and \\'001 ma y be u sed indiscriminately.

.

One Tin in. 5;elj-A dlz esi7H Plas t er, cos t 3d.-Use, to keep edges of deep flesh-wound together after bein o first cleansed with anti-septic solutio'n a ncl brought into Ju.x taposllIon. The St:lpS should be at 7/C1'y least their own apart; but as WIde apart as effective, WGulcl be better. [he ends should be lon g enough to havc a good firm hold beboth t:dges of the wound. Place some boracic wool or over thiS, and bandage sufficiently firmly only, to keep 1I1Jured part well up together.

Box of Safety fins, c.os l 2d:-Handy for fas tening rolle r bandages, makmg Impro."lsed i.e. from the clothing, and many other e.xpenence may demancl.

F;laslzc Toltrmquel, ros t 6d, - For application a s set forth 111 S.J.A.!\., or any other relIable text-book. Great ca re should be exerCIsed. that 17:;t more tltall s uffi cicnt pressure t? stop the h cl:: morrhage IS apphcd; unle'is it is an instan ce of a c ompletely, or nearly so, severed. In whi c h cas e, ('xc-e.\'SI'"l'e press ure - .apply near the en.d of the limb as possible would not entaIl the nsk of such effects, as might ensuc from too much pre ss ure bem.g u se d! Jl1 ordinary cases

TIJZ Box to. keep artIcles m cos ts, say 3d. receIve theIr supplies of medi ci nal lo ze ng es and slmllar goC?ds from the wholesale houses in tin boxes measurIng abC?ut 111. X ::d in., which, wh en empty, the y no doul?t would ,g Ive a,:"ay for such a purpose as here outlined. r n tl:e l11stan c e under review, the c hemist ery km.dly gave the w.ntet r 5 s uch boxes, and 111 r e turn, articles l11dl ca ted for fittll1g up each of them were purchase d from hIm.

Elastic Band, 4 in. x I ill ., cos t Id - This to go round box ke e p cover on. Drapers bought b y th e yard, c ut mto 4111. length s, and sewn up Il1to bands, s b est for the purpose.

It will be gathered from foregoing th a t the total cost of an outfit as shown would be 4S.; but possibly, as in the present cas e, some of the are already in hand.

For those who so deSIre, thIS list c ould b e most aLlvantageously extended to include :---

Pair Sharp Scissors, cos t Is.:- For trimming away useles s pgged Resl:, or loos!,! .hangll1g skll1, or clothing in burns, &c. and or cuttmg off bandages. '

Bot.tle ot Sal Volatile, cos 6d.-Stimulant for use w!zen paizent zs able s7uall07u on recovery from shock fa 111t.s , ImmerSIon, suffocatIon, & c From half-teaspoonful a c hlld to a teaspoonful for an adult, in a tablespoonful of warm water.

Collapsible Cup, cost Is. - For administering stImulant, to make anti-septic solution.

Set of Splznts, cost 2S. 6d. - For purposes as pel and bell1g adjustable are more compact as well as handler.

Band, cos t fd. - For securing tongue of patient upon whom IS necessary t? perform' artificial respiration.

( N .8. Obtall1.natural. before taking any actual steps to Induce ordll1ary cIrculatIOn. Preparati ve steps for latter m.ay, of c ourse, be taken whil s t former is being I)roceeded WIth )

,One A ide !V(emorie •cos t Id. I n the excitement of an aCCIdent, a first alder could well be pardoned if hi s wits went

ovember, 1902. -FIRST wool gathering, when an "aide memoric " would soo n enable him to pull himself together.

These other articles ',"ould mean a c o s t of about 9s., it faIrly large sum, .but that w?uld be recouped by th c c onhdencc expenenced III knowlllg that If one's services wcre unfortunately \ alled upon, the chances were that effi ci ent first aid could readily and effecti\' ely be rendered -confidence that would be c hanged to a greater happines s to know that s u c h had been accomplished; and again, it is a very moot point what value a first C\ider s knowled ge is likely to be if he has n o t some simple means of help at hand.

With the hope that by in se rtion in the co lumns of FIRST AJ f) these few notes may be of assistance to others beyond the pale of those for whom it s written, the writer desires to remain. Yours, with heart y anticipatory th a nk s, S. LL OY D HAR VEV, Acting officer in charge, Radstock Diy isio n S.J.A.B. Radsto c k, ovem ber 6th, 1902.

BRISTOL CITY :\IARINE Ai\IBULANCE COR I'S.

GENTLE:1IIEN, - I thank your co rrespondent "A Citizen" for his te s timon y to wo.rk " hi c h the members of this co rp s have d?ne, and are s tIll dOll1g; bu [ would prefer that he did not WrIte under a 1101ll dt! plwne, as my obje c t in lay in g the facts before you in 111y letter of August 18th, and \\'hich a ppeared in your ,Se ptember issue, was for a two-fold purposefir s t, to ascerta1l1 whether we co uld not, through th e medium o f your paper, awaken so me: intere s t so that the 5t. J Oh11 Ambulancc Authorities would at least grant u s an interview, and h ear o ur side of thi s momentuou s question; and, secon dly, with the view of ascertaining, if po ssi bl e, publi c opinion on the matter, as it is but fa ir and just that all per s ons who s uppo rt ambulance work should kno\\ something of th e inner workings of organisa tion s tbat they h aye subscribed to; generally this knowl eci"c is limited to g iving a c heque or cash, and there the matter ends until another donation or subscription s wanted and applied for without any s tatement bein g giyen as to how and where th e m o ney has been expended and what there is to sholl' for it. This, I am informed, is unfortunately one of th e rcasons " h y ambulance work is not properl y s upported.

Probably" A Citizen" is debarred from giving h is n ame and address, as no doubt he is, as I suspect, a prominent lo cal o ffi c ial of the S.J.A. B ., and would be c ontrary to the ordcrs of the officials of that orga nisati o n for any of their number s to cnter into corres pondenc e ,vi th or a bout us; and my s u spicions are borne out b y h is statement th a t ., he has thorou g hl y s tudied the question s in ce its inception. " There are but four persons outside of our Council, supporters and members who are COI1Yersant with the true facts, and these four a re all prominent officials in th e lo cal corps of the S.J.A.B., therefore it is obvious that th e re is a s trong personal feeling against myself, which is not e\ en " thinly "eiled " although an attempt is m ade to cover it with a fcw words of praIse and under a 110m de plullle whicil is a poor s hield, and har d ly one that s hould be u s ed by a g entleman. Ifyuur co rrespondent in not onc of the S.J.A.B. officia ls I llluSt cmphatically sta te that hc ha s n o t « thoroughly st ud ied the question by information obtained from both co rp s

Do es "i\ Ci ti zen" think I am the only per son in the n.C.M.A.C. who has a voi ce in tbis matter ? Our Council c ons is ts of ex-Lord l\layor's, aldermen, J.]>.'s, clergymen, medi cal ge ntlemen, and otber inRuential person s o f a ll creeds and p o liti cs, who hav e thoroughl y st udied th e true bearin gs of thi s que stio n \'er)" minutely, and they have approved throug'h their Executive Committee of the ac tion taken in bringing thi s matter forw ar cl.

L e t yo ur correspondent then, before he accuses me or "proclaiming my s uppo s ed grievances from the hou se top, " explain why the ambulance authorities in London refus e d tom eet a dcputation from this Corps when requested to do so, and \\"h o in an s wcr to a letter from our Council gaye a clec s ion whi c h was founded on information \\ h ic h ca n be proyed as in c orre c t.

Thi s I think, is sufficient proof that wc were s eeking a se ttl cment , but were refused by the London authorities.

Thc idea « that the authorities in Lond o n should throw 0\ cr their representative s in B r isto l in order to recei\'e th c Bristol deputation " owes its origin to "A Citi ze n, " as such a c tion was not even thought of, mu c h less expected, by cither offic ers or members of this Corps, all we a s kcd for wa s all op-

AID - 77

p o rtunit y to s peak ourseh'es (a c on cessio n which is allowed to CrImInals, but denIed to. those who give their time and money for: the s upport ex ten s Ion of ambulance work ) I is plainl ) oLIve b.ran;:h has been held out ( to quote " t CItIzen s WOlds) by thIS Corps, and III return we have bcen treated WIth sca nt courtesy.

" A Citizen" does not attempt in any way to contradict lll\ as o the treatment accorded to us by the loca'l offiCIals and amb ula!l ce of th e S.] .A. B., of whom has late! )' c har acte rIsed us 111 publi c as "an undi scipli n ed and unpnn c lpled mob." In answer to th at I would like o state that members are open at any time to co mpete with the Bri«ac1e In any way, a nd although the m ajo rit y of our membert are from dockers. \\'orki n g on the s hip s, quays, .xc., reel per fe c tly JustIfied III that the y ca n and will, do theIr work (as testIfied by "A Ci ti ze n ") are perfe c tl y amenable to dlsplll1e; and, as reo-ards princip le s would co mpare fa voura bl y with any other worker. d:=n y th e impe achment that" e ntertain a spirit of towa rd s the BrIgade," 011 contrary, I respect It S m em ber s, and ,:,lso thoroughly appreCIate the work clone by them, and am on IntImate terms with severa l members but I ce: tainly deprc ciate thc treatment and rcmarks which reCC I\:e ancl hear from time to time as emanating- fr om so m e officers and men of the Brigad e As. to the Brig,:,de bein g" the lecof5nised Corps of the City, " cer t amly con tr adICt th at self-sty led tItle. They have no more rIg ht to assemb le at large public gathe rin gs for ambulance \\ ark than any ot her body has, 111 a ll cases applica ti on must or s h ould be made to the police a uthoriti es who alone co ntro l stree t traffic and are. for tl:e protection of the public.

It IS to aVOId personal contact, and possibly unpleasant epIsodes, that our mem bers do not go out on public d uty oftener th an they do, \\'e ha\'e refusedll1any invitations to take part in public demonstrations, ancl in add;tion we do not wish to po s e as am bulanc.e men for the purpose of seeing footba!l mat c hes , C?r attendlllg co n certs, .xc., wit h ou t payment, neIther do we WIsh t o c0!11e under the ca te gory of a prominent Ci t y offi CIal, \\"ho so m e lItt le tim e past said, "Ambulance men in Bristol are always ih the front ro\\' or best place to see any s h o \\", and no among the c row d where the work o enerally is."

In conclusion, I quite agree with your corr:spondent that a conso lidati on o f th e two Corps wou ld bring Bristol to the front as possessing a Brigade second to none, but it would not be fair or just to expect those who have wor ked and own an equip ment second to none, to unconditionally give e\ 'erything m'er and be s ubj ect to an autocratic ruling that would depose a member a t s hor t noti ce, without any oppor tunit y to appeal. Such a state of things is a great menace to ambu lance \I ork, a nd unle ss rectified soon will ultim ately lead to all ambulance work being under the control of municipal authorities.

In co nclusion, I would ike to mcntion that r have recel\'ecl letters from all parts of England from indi\' iduals and bodies \\'ho h a \ e either sece ded from the S.J.A.B., or who cannot join the Brigade o win g to the s trin gent regulations, and there is no doubt that a large increasing body of earnest a n d keen ambulan ce men are gradually bein g drawn together, with almost identical ideas, and with gentlemen of position in sympathy with them. I tru s t the Brigade officials \\ill see to i a nd do their utmost to br ing the ambulance worker to join their lank!:; b y mod ifying the red tape bu iness and ot h er gricvance::, ,vhi c h are at present th innin g their ranks fast. Yours respectfully, J. F. 'f)U S I ZE, Hon. Sec., Bristol City :\Iarine Ambulance Corps. Seamen's I nsti tute, Princc-street.

SHALL WE ?lrUr\ICIPALISE THE ,\;'IIl3l.!LA CE SERVICE

DIL \R SIRS, As a mem bcr of th e S .] .A.A. of nearly 20 yea r s' sta ndin g, IllO St of them spe nt in office, m ay I be allowed to r e pl y to some of the rcmarks of "A Belie\'er in Di scip lin e " publi s hed in your last iss ue I do not tak e this cours e be cause I think i\lr. \\' inslade not capable of taking up the c udgels in his own defencc. Eyen it were true, as "A Belie,'er in Discipline" s tat es, that ;'IIr. \Vinslade is lac kin g in sllch excellent , irtues as co u rtesy and obedicnce to h io- her authority, whi c h statement all who kno\\ him would flatl; co ntradi c t, he is certain ly not lacking in the

courarre of his own opinions, neither is he ashamed of his own name bas your correspondent appears to be. I trust the latter's sense of discipline is not so great that he has ceased to have an individuality, and only exists as Private :No. So-and-so.

Referring to your correspondent s letter, I should like to point out to h.im that. nothing is from our thoughts than any idea of Inthclra\\,ll1g our allegiance from the S.J.A.A. contention is that owing to the yery different circumstances 111 which different corps are s ituated, it is next to impossible to draw up hard and fast rules for the guidance of each corps. The details mL:st of necessity be left to the discretion of the local officials. E\'en the War Office has recognised the benefit of de-centralisation.

Referring to your correspondent's remarks on transport work, we certainly never should send a recruit in charge of a removal. Our centre here is divided into squads, each of which in turn is on duty for a fortnight. The captain of each squad is a menlber of from 12 to 20 years' experience. Each squad contains a good proportion of senior men; and the recruits as they pass their exammation are divided amongst the squads, so the contingency of sending a recruit in charge of a case is to remote to be considered.

As to our efficiency, your correspondent has only to ask any of our medical men, some of them fresh from London hospitals, to obtain a favourable verdict. I do not think they would hesitate to send us anywhere. When the fact is considered that although this is only a small town we attended upwards of 80 cases last year, I think "A Belie\-er in Discipline" will acknowledge that we get a fair amount of practice.

In conclusion, think the position is simply this: Vie do not resent sensible authority, what we do object to is useless interference which in no way tends to imprm-e the efficiency of a centre.

Thanking you in anticipation,-I am, Sir, yours faithfully, \V. R. Dm\'l1ing-street, Farnham, Surrey.

DEAR SIRs,-\Ve ha\'e waited for the headquarters to explain or improve their ways. They have failed to do so, with their usual indifference. Let us pro ceed tf) further abuse of this most" noble and beneficient il Association plus Brigade_

\Vhy is not this Association uniform in its workings - fees, &c.-all the coun try over?

\\l ith reference to the brigade indifference, or incapacity at headquarters must explain much. Admitting, some div1sons work well, through their own efforts, but headquarters take the credit. As usual, let us suggest a few improvements, Sirs.

1. Headquarters should supply every man with a complete outfit (not exclusi\-e of overcoats, &c. ) as under the present three years agreement system; insist on efficiency and reasonable physique of men.

2. Drivers of ambulance wagons should be in uniform wear and" paid men;" officers and privates wear a more tive uniform.

3· As the" Gate" are dilate>ry about refunding expenses, the :rouchers Without money should be accepted by the railway offic1als, who would present them for ?payment at the "Gate." Also the" Gate" men with food while on duty

4 · That the heavy campaign great coats be abolished and one more suitable for civil sen.-ice be adopted Capes to be worn in doubtful weather, not the obsolete and clumsy " horse-collar."

. Now, if the headquarters wish to enforce real disclp!me,. and act up to it themselves, they will obtain that IS cert.amly non-existent at the present-smartness and effiCIency, With fewer" suggestions" from.-Yours, again is confidence, " DISCIPLINE" AND "OLD LEGGINGS."

WAR MEDAL WITHOUT BARS.

DEAR Sms,--With reference to the letter of" il and your reply thereto, published in your Issue of October last, as I also have the S.A. medal, but no bars, I should be glad to know to whom we should write for I should also be glad to know what has become of the S-J.A.B. rI.1edal which was promised in 1900, at about which time a design (whICh had been approved) was published, lea\,-

November, 19 0 2

ing only the question of metal (brome or silver) to be decided on; or if this-like some of the men's services-is to be forgotten - Yours respectfully, VOLUNTEER.

November, 1902 -F IR S T other concerts, dramatic performances, football or cricket matches, all of which have brought in good results.

A ID. - 79

we do not necessarily identify ourselves with their views, but we are wishful that all sides shall hal'e a fair and impartial hearing.

Sms,-"

IiI desperandum," who wrote you last month on this subject, is not the only member of the S.J A.B. who has to complain of the absence of the bars and also the second medal, which I have reason to believe has been sent to various deputycommissioners who apparently became entitled to it through stopping at home and writing out the list of those who were to put comfort aside for the sake of their country.

I t is not of this I complain, however, but the lack o f courtesy which we have received from St. John's Gate Just three years ago I offered my services and went out with the first company of the "Saints! " Twelve months ago I had the audacity to write to headquarters and enquire if the bars and second medal had come, 1.nd then my superintendent received a letter asking if the communication had come through him. Individual queries will do very little or no good, and I would suggest to every reader of the excellent FIRST AID, who is entitled to bars and the medal, sends an application to reach headquarters on the first of next month Then, perhaps, the matter will receive attention -Yours truly, DEVON

November 14th, 1902

THE S.J.A MEN AT THE FRO TT GENTLl1)IEN,-I have read the letter of LY. Hospital with mingled feelings of surprise and commiseration; surprise that he should not know what goes on in the ranks of the corps to which he belongs; and commiseration for him, inasmuch, as I shall have to dissipate that charming fable of his about the three year men As he says, one should always be prepared with chapter and verse 'Well, sirs, I ask you to publish a copy of a letter which I cut from the Yorksltire Post, which was sent to me in South Africa; this, I think, will undeniably prove the truth of my story.

[COPy.J

AMBULA TCE VOLUNTEERS FOR SOUTH AFRICA.

To the Editor of the Yorksllz'1'e Po si. SIR,-As am daily receil-ing applications from persons desirous to serve with the Ambulance Brigade in South Africa, who are not, in accordance with present regulations, eligible, ha\'e thought it adl'isable to state publicly for the information of all concerned, that one of the first conditions of service is that they must hold the Association's first aid certificate, without which they cannot possibly be sent forward.

At the present time there are no special arrangements for indiyiduals to quickly obtain this certificate, although if I had, say, twenty or thirty candidates, I could ha\-e a course of instruction started immediately, and have them ready for going in about six weeks, if they are still wanted at that time.

I am, of course, open to accept any who hold the first aid certificate, no matter where their residence is, UpOll certain conditions, and I shall be pleased to hear from those who have the necessary qualifications and would like to go out. I could send these very quickly . - Yours faithfully, (Signed) GIW. AIUllTAGE, Superintendant.

Ellesmere Hou se,' Stanningley-road, Upper Armley, April 24th

_

I presume this gentleman, writing as he does, in such an authorative spirit, knows more tban LY.II. does, and holds a position which permitted him to 'write in this strain Than king you once more.--Yours, and still proud of it, "A SCALLYWAG.

N F B.U W I DOWS', ORPHANS' AND BENEVOLENT FUND.

DEAR SIRS,-At the annual meeting special a tt en t ion was called to the Widows', Orphans' and Denevolent Fund, and a suggestion was then made that brigades should put a box in the fire station for donations I should be glad if chief officers would during the next few months kindly give this suggestion their personal attention, and forward any sums now collected to me so that the name of their brigade may be published among this year s subscri bel'S

Some brigades have organised parades, sri10king and

The Governors are most anxious that every brigade should contribute this year on account of the great interest taken in the Fund by the Select Committee of the House of Commons, and it is hoped that we may rely on the united support of all officers and members of the fire service.-Yours faithfully, HOR ,\CE S. FCJLKER, Hon. Gen Sec. Headquarters, Guildforcl.

SUGGESTION FOR A COMPETITION.

DEAR SIRS,-As a constant reader of FIRST Aw, I should like to throw out a suggestion for a prize competition, and one which I think would increase the sale of the J oumal, and also prove useful to first aid men and women. I t is that you should give a series of poisonous plants, herbs, and trees, in small pictures, requiring the name of the plant, &c., to be given, and the poison tables they are classified under-something like this: -

Plant or Tree.

Name of plant-Poppy

Classification-N arcotic.

I think if the above suggestion was carried Ollt it would be most useful besides being interesting, as I know there are hundreds of ambulance men who don t know what species of plants, &c., are that have been &,i\-en in the .issue of the official handbook of the AssoclatlOl1, and I thl11k It would be the means of helping the sale of the Journal, and also help an ambulance man in one of the hardiest tasks which he has to learn in first aid.

Hoping you will give it your consicleratiul1. - 1 remain, yours, &c., CORPL. H COPE.

L. & .\\T R. Division, 1 uneaton.

[\Vhat have other readers. to say about suggestion? \ Ve are at all times glad to receive such suggestlOns, and thank CorpI. Cope for making one. - EDITORS

MOTOR FIRE ENGINES A D AMBULANCE CARS.

DEAR Sms,-Concerning ., i\Iotor Fire Engines and Ambulance Cars" referred to on page 63 of FIRST AID for October, i\Ir Chas. T. Crowden only deals Iyith motor fire eno-ines in criticising my remarks, and as one \\ ho has seen a of motors of all designs of build and quality it seems to me I have as much right to express an opinion as anyone else on a subject I take an in. I never sa.id was a professional engineer or anythmg of sort, and It was of ambulances - not so much fire engl11es-and the poor patlents likely to be carried on tbem, and the danger to the public in the streets, that caused me to wnte.

I hope I have done nothing much .amlss 111 putting "makers" instead of "manufacturers" ll1terest. And as reo-ards hand squirts, I should not like to see them revived.

I like nothing bett.er than to see the big steamers of the i\LF.B. at work.-Yours sll1cerely,

L. A. C.

WHO W_\S THERE " IHites tllere was a touching incident about a couple of hundred from the Duke of York's column during the Royal ProcesslOn on 25 th

A chi ld who had fainted could have been seen 111 the arms of an ambulance man, who he was doing his best to resto re that it mioht see the King I am please to state t ha the ambu lanc; man succeeded, much to the delight of bot h child and parent.

J F. T. - The date is a misprint, it IS October 13th in the original.

**-Yr By inserting the letters of our various correspondents

International Fire Ex hibition, Earl 's Court. 1903

AT the executive meeting of the British Fire Prevention Committee, held on October 25th, the announcement was made that the committee's preliminary arrangements for the International Fire Exhibition had been completed, and the general programme finally decided upon.

An eminently influential advisory council, representative of the great technical and fire interests, and headed by the president of the Royal Society and presidents of the leading scientific institutions, has now been duly constituted, and the various working sub-committees are in course of formation .

The hearty co-operation of the Duke of Marlborough, K.G. (president), and the leading members of the National :Fire Brigades Union, the officials of the Private Fire Brigades Association and St. John Ambulance Association has been assured, whilst the various Continental fire authorities have promised active assistance.

The preliminary work for the Fire Congress to be held next year at the time of the exhibition, has also now been started under the direction of Mr. Edwin O Sachs, chairman of the Fire Prevention Committee. A number of most important questions will be discussed at this conference, at which the leading authorities of all countries will be represented.

The exhibition will have the advantage of eminently interesting exhibits in the way of modern constructional and engineering work and the latest fire appliances, as also in the form of paintings, engravings and historical relics, so that the subject of fire protection, which is of so much interest to the metropolis of late, will be most exhaustively treated in every way.

A few years ago a fire occurred one morning at a house in Liverpool, and the staircase was well before it was discm"ered. The servants ( who were left 111 charge) had to seek some other means of escape. The companion to an elderly im-alid lady \\'as reading the ne\\-spaper report to her? in which it stated that one servant escaped down a water pipe at the back of the house. At this statement the old lady exclaimed: " But how thin the poor dear must haye been! "

3 E

A NEW FIRE ESCAPE.-On Saturday, October 25th, under the most trying weather conditions, .some interesting experiments were made at the Redheugh Bridge, ewcastle, when a new life-saving apparatus, the im'ention of Messrs. and Co. [orthbourne-srreet, ewcastle, was put to a practical test. apparatus, which is called "The Safety .Rope Brake and Sin<Yle Line Fire Escape," 1S an extremely Simple and ino-enious and the expel iments on Saturday \\-ere successful. A wire ro.pe was fastened to one of the iron girders of the bndge, and It hung down to the water's edge Down the rope four or five men wearing the new apparatus slid Llntil they the water, where a boat was waiting for them. By the aid of the new brake the sreed at wbich the men travelled could be rpgulated to a l1Jcety-indeed, they could come. to a .dead stop at any time they desired to do so. The 1l1Vention of ;\ Iessrs. Balmer would pro\'e il1\ uluable in cas e of fi!-e, and its extreme portability and cheapness are tll-O of Its chief feat:tres. The experiments on Saturday were watched With keen 1l1terest.by large crowds of people who congregated on the bridge Itself and on the river banks

Volunteer School of Instruction.

I're sident: :\fajor Andrew:\ I aclure, V.D . late L.S.I<'.Y. Office: 23, Cambridge Street, Hyde Park, \ V ORDJ':R : Saturday r\OY. 22nd. Prize Competi tion for Acl\'anced C lass at .J..30 p.m., at II e,ldq uarters of Artists J.z. \ '. Parade in drill order.

\\'eclne sday, NOI· 26th, at 7.30. p 1l1. R e hear sa l [or r nspection.

( By Order ) F. 13. GILES, F RC.S., Brigade Surgeon Lt.-Col., Senior [edi cal Officer.

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FIRST AID.

The Independent Journal for the Ambulance and Fire Services.

Conducted by ARTHUR T. DALE, M.J.I., and JOHN REYNOLDS.

No. 102 VOL. IX. [NEW SERIES ] DECEMBER, 1902. [Entered at Stati01zers' Hall.]

..-As at an early date we contemplate making some important improvements in "FIRST AID," it will be necessary to increase the price of the Journal, and on and after January 1903, the rate of subscription will be 2S. 6d. per annum, post free, or 2d. per copy.

To Our Readers.

As it s the earnest wish and desire ofthe new Proprietors to make Journal as allractive and entertaining as possible, correspondents In all parts of the country are asked to give it all the help they can. Superintendents of Corps and Officers of Dil'isions of the Sl. John Ambulance Brigade, Officers of the Yolunteer Medical Staff Corps, th e Volunteer Ambulance School of Instruction, and Chief Officers of Fire Brigadcs will, it is hoped, do their best to make it known amongsL the members o[ their respective organisations, and will also send [or publication their official news and notices. Suggestions are invited [or Prize Competitions and other matters which will advance the interest of the Journal.

We particularly desire to ask our correspondents to be brief and to the point in any communications they may send us for publication. We are pleased to record the fact that we are alrcady receiving a great accession of suppo rt [rom a ll parts of the country, and as our space is somewhat limited, in dealing with reports o[ local meetings for presentation o[ certificates, &c ., it would be better that a brief report were written, giving a short r esume of the various points touched upon by the principal speakers, rather Lhan that a lengthy newspaper report should be sent giving in detail the whole record o[ the meeting. This repo r t is doubtless interesting to local First-aiders, but it must be borne in mind that we are catering [or the Ambulance and Fire Brigade world at arge

TEKl\IS OF SUBSCRIPTIOK

For 12 months, IS. 6d., post [ree, to be sent to the Publishers, lJale, Reynolds and Co., 46, Cannon-street, London, ,E, C. Te!egrapltic A ddress-" Twe71t)l-jollr, L07ldoll " Telephone NO'-'477 Balik Brevities.

\ VITH the advent of this number the present proprietors of this Journal have held the editorial reins for twelve months, a nd th ey desire to take the opportunity at this festive season of the year to wish one and all of the ren.ders of both the a mbulance and the fire service a very Happy Christmas a nd Bright New Year. The past year has been an eventful one in the annals of both services In the first p lac the prolonged war in South Africa has come to an end, th ereby enabl in g many an Am bulance man and fireman to return to his home and avocation. Then, again, we hav e had th e Coronation, an event which had been looked forw ard to

with S? much pleasure by a ll classes of societ)', but which for a tIme was o'er shadowed by a cloud which recalled to mind dark No.vember days when our present I"-ll1g was stncken down WIth that dread disease which has carried off so nf our best in South Africa' during the recent campaIgn. But all is well that ends well. Our Sovereign has been duly crowned, and if pOSSIble, that a l most fatal illness has brought him even nearer to our and has evinced to him how deep and unswerving IS the loyalty and affection of his people. Among the most notab.le events of the year in connection with the two services, we may especially single out the distribution of medals to ambulance men by his Majesty the King at Buckingham Palace, the distribution of medals to the members of the Imp erial Yeomanry Hospital, at De\-onshire House by her Majesty the Queen; similar functions being also performed by Lord Roberts at \YElbeck; by the Colonial Secretary at Birmingham, and by General Buller at Sheffield. The Government has also recogni sed the value of ambulance work inasmuch as his Majesty has conferred honours upon many of the principal workers in the cause. It is gratifying also to note that some of the members of the fire service have also received recognition, at the hands of the Sovereign of a friendly State, we allude to the recipients of the Red Cross of Germany. What is in store during the coming year no one can foretell; but one fact is apparent, that both the ambulance and the fire service must make a further step forward. The coming Exhibition will do much to bring both prominently to the front, and now that ::l.n era of peace has apparently dawned upon the European nations, we feel assured that the occasion will be taken advantage of, to recognise more fully than in the past the splendid services rendered by members of both bodies.

RETURNING once more to our conductorship of the Journal, we desire to thank the many friends who have helped us in this initial stage of our management. W e have received many proofs of friendly feeling of which we are deeply sensible We trust that the decision which we have arriyed at tu increase the price will not militate against our continued success. ,\Ve can assure our readers tltat this decision was not arrived at hurriedly, but made after due consideration It will, we feel sure, be apparent to all that inasmucb as the Post-office will not convey the Jonrnal a L the usual paper rate we are compelled, taking into consideration the growing circulation and other causes, to either reduce the size again or increase the charge. W e adopted th e latter course, and we belie\'e our readers will have no reason to complain r egarding the change inasmuch

as many improvements will be effected which will, we think, materially enhance its value as a thoroughly representative organ for both the am bulance and fire service.

* * *

WE have received an intimation that the proposed complimentary benefit to Mr. Cecil Baker is now fixed for the 4th January, at the Freemason's Tavern. The committee have been singularly fortunate in securing as the chairman that grand ambulance worker, Sir John Furley, one who has made the name of the Engl ish am b:.rlancier an honoured one on many a battlefield. We trust that both for the sake of the and also with the object of supporting so popular a chairman, that the room \Yill be packed. First aiders and firemen, it is Christmas time, make up your minds to do your level best for an unfortunate comrade, and if unfortunately you cannot be presen t at the concert, which is sure to be good, seeing that it is arranged by the Concert Artistes' Benevolent Association, well then, send along to the committee the price of a ticket or two. A little cash is worth a lot of pity, you know!

* * *

TI-iE Presto7l Guardiall says ;-Lieut-Colonel C. J. Trimble, of Louth House, Bamber Bridge, Duputy Commissioner for No. 4 District of the S.J.A.B., has been gazetted Companion of the Order of St, 11ichael and St. George, in recognition of his eminent services in sending men from the district to the seat of war in South Africa. The colonel has been connected with ambulance work for the past 18 years, and has been a Deputy Commissioner of the 4th Brigade district for many years, the district of the brigade including Lancashire, Cheshire, Westmoreland, Cumberland, the Isle of Man and Ireland, with a total roll of 9000 members. During the war Dr. Trimble had an enormous lot of work thrown on him in responding to the requests of the ,Var Department. As a matter of fact, he supplied over 1,000 competent am bulance men from this district, which number is nearly half of the total from the five other remaining districts combined. Many of the men were despatched on short notice, so that the responsibility thrown upon Dr. Trimble was very great. His services have been so strongly appreciated by the War Office that he was recommended for a distinction which has given pleasure to every mem ber of the brigade, and he has received many congratulations. By some mistake the initials of the name were published in the newspapers as " C. T.," and this evidently lead to a little confusion as to the ide.ntity of the honoured person. A few months ago Dr. Trimble was the recipient of the distinguished service medal.of the association, which was presented to him by the Pnnce of Wales as President.

A SCH,EME is. on foot. to rebuild the interesting old church at hagle, L1l1colnshIre, which is one of the oldest existing churches formerly in the possession of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem. The manor and church of Eanle were granted by King. Stephen to the Knights Templ:rs, and after the suppression of that order in 1309 was transferred to the Knights of the Hospital of St. John of

Jerusalem, in whose hands they remained until the confiscation of the property of the order in 1540. The ancient office of Bailiff of Eagle is at present held by his Royal Highness the Duke of Conn aught. The church has fallen into a sad state of dilapidation, and the Rev. Charles Kirk, vicar of the parish, writes that £ 1,800 is needed to carry out the scheme of reconstruction, which will preserve all that remains of the old and interesting features. Only £ 1,057 has yet been raised, and funds are urgently needed.

-)(- -:t *

WRITlNG to the Yorkshire Post, Colonel Sir Charles Firth expresses the hope that prominence will be given to that portion of the lessons taught by the Vernon :Mill fatal fire in Stockport, namely, that in case of fire, workpeople must get out just as promptly as though their factory was not fireproof, because of the suffocating smoke arising up staircase and hoist, &c. An impression exists in operatives' minds that if arched floors are between them and the room on fire, they are safe. In tlle present case not only was their retreat cut off, but the arching came down, and and had it not been that the Corporation new fire escape (60 ft.) arrived in time to rescue, many might have increased the death roll. The Queen Victoria-street, London, fatal fire caused several brigades to get modern escapes. Stockport only received theirs a fortnight before the Vernon Mill disaster.

*

WE cull the following from a provincial paper. Referring to the Order of St. John, the JOLlrnal says ;-"Its origin dates back to 900 years ago. During the Crusades there \\'ere two classes of knights, the Red Cross (or fighting) Knights, and the White Cross (or hospital) Knights, the latter being the predecessors of the S.lA.B. They were formed in 1023 in Jerusalem, by order of the Patriarch of Jerusalem. Over tbeir armour they wore a black robe and a white eight-pointed star on the breast- hence the now familiar black and white uniform of the brigade as seen at Worksop - and they were still proud to wear on some part of the uniform that eight-pointed white cross. As these surgeons prospered people became jealous, and to persecute them, so they had to turn into militant knights and fight for their lives. They were eventually beaten out of Palestine to Cyprus, Crete, Rhodes, and then to Malta. Here for some time they did well, but Bounaparte besieged the place and held it [or a month, when the knights fled to England for refuge, and founded the monastry at C1erkenwell. That was confiscated by Queen Elizabeth, and all that was 'now left of the building was the gateway, similar to but larger than the Priory gateway at Worksop." The above is an extract from the report of a lecture, but we fear the reporter must have had a very hazy idea of the subject certainly he's a little bit mixed up between Bonaparte and Queen Elizabeth.

Our Portrait Gallery.

H.R.H. THE DUKE OF CA I13RlDGE, K.G.

IN our gallery this month appears the portrait of one of the most popular members of our popular Royal Family. His Royal Highness, who was born at Hanover in the year J 8 I 9, succeeded his father the first Duke on the 8th July, 1850. He became a Colonel in the army in the year 1837, and was promoted to the rank of Major-General in 18 45,

A I D.-

than ordinary effort to comply with the wishes of the organIsers t.hat he should be presenl, and by his voice and presence give a "send off" to two movements which we one and all trust will do much to advance the cause of peace both within and outside our Empire. advanced. in age we heartil y express the Wish that he may be With LIS for many years His life has been well spenl, and in common with other members of our Royal family, it has ever been his earnest desire to do all that lay within his power to advance the interests and prestige of the country he has served so faithfull y and loves so well. May the sunset of his life be calm and peaceful, assured as he must be that he has the regard and esteem of his fellow countrymen and counlrywomen.

In conclusion, it will, we are sure, be of interest to our readers to know that His Royal HiCThness was married at the Priory Ch urch of St. John, in /:)Clerken \Yell and this fact has always endeared him to the residents of the borough which is the birthplace of the Order, of which His Royal Highness is one of the most revered members. This all too brief a sketch of His Royal Higbness would be incomplete without some allusion to his two gallant sons. We English people have always a keen appreciation ot the filial devotion shown towards parents, and the deyotion at all exhibited towards their aged parent by his sons, has gamed for them a measure of that esteem which is felt for His Royal Highness himself.

The portrait was taken by Langner and was graciously placed at our disposal by His Royal Highness, an honour which we appreciate very fully.

-------. .------

Result of Priz e Comp e titi o n .

By OUR AMBULANCE EXPERT.

attaining the rank of Field :'I1<1rsbal in r862, and was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the British army in 1887. A position which he resigned in the year 18 9 6

A thorough soldier by natural intuition, he made it his earnest study, while at the head of the army to do what lay within his power not only to improve the morale of the private soldier, but also to ameliorate bis condition while in the service, and old soldiers will ever entertain a grateful recollection of the many movements for their benefit which were inaugurated and fostered by his kindly aid; and even now, although advancing years compelled him to relinquish the position, he is at all times only too ready to come forward to do anything he can to a id any movement which has for its aims the assistance of men who have served under the colours.

Nor must it be assumed that his interest is confined to the military portion of the community His Royal Highness, as is well known, is President of Christ's Hospital, in the interests of which be has always taken a leading and act ive part. As president of the forthcoming Fire Exhibition he occupied the chair at the inaugural meeting held at the Royal United Service Institution, November 26th, J9 02 , when he referred to the interest he took in that all important subject, the question of saving life from fire j ogain a day or two later he occupied the chair at the meeting called to promote the Peace Exhibition, which is to take place in J ohannesburg early in the coming year. At both these m eetings it was apparent to those who had the privilege of being present, that, His Royal Highness had made more

"Tms competition is for the best article in fa\'our of a Municipal Service, and for the best article against sllch a service."

It seems to me a great pity that many of the competitors did not study closely the above few lines taken from the July number of this journal, and then they would have understood the scope of the article required and the points that needed discussion.

A good many of the papers placed before me were either almost solely in praise of the S.J. \ B., or were full of complaints against that body. I do not see, according to the conditions of the competition as given above, that it is necessary to dwell on either of these points.

Other competitors have devoted the whole of their articles to describing the working of an ambulance servicE', which again, is not asked for. One especially-"L.A.C."has sent some splendid drawings which, I am sorry, are not to the point and cannot be used in connection with this competition.

I am asked to give my opinion, and I give the prize in favour of a Municipal Service to an "OD3ERYER," with a recommendation to the Editor to strike out a paragraph which is simply abusing the S.J.A.B., and which is lIot required as an argument

For the best article against a Municipal Service I give the prize to "EL'FlC1El cv."

I have also recommended one or two paragraphs 111 thIS article to be struck out, on account to referring to Brigade matters only.

[The paragraphs referred to have been omitted.ED FA ]

ASK. YOUR NEWSA.GENT TO SUPPLY "FIRST AID " EVERY MONTH .

CapL William Dickinson, of the Saffron 'Walden Fire Brigade, died of valvular disease of the heart on the 13th inst.

AGA I NST MU NI C I PAL CO N TROL.

Efficiency! Efficiency ! Efficiency ! ! and a maximum of efficiency with a minimum of contro L Th is is our watchword as men of the B rigade. Our latest general regulations are framed to this end and if obeyed loyally and in detail must result in freedom from friction and a high standard of perfection

The question of Municipal Control in place of such regulations raises an important point in the minds of our men their work is essentially a work of self-sacrifice. The devotion of the Order of St. John through many centuries of our Nat ional history proves this, and the or igin and purpose of such a band must not be overlooked or minimised. It is the purely voluntary service of the Brigade which places its work at a h igh level and to its individual members is such a charm The grace of the gift of service is an important factor in its life and organisation. It is for work of this nature that the public is grateful and in acknowledgment freely supports it.

In a large city, teeming with many workers, an ambulance service like that which would be formed under a Town Counci l would, of necessity, be limited in n u mber though avai lable at all times anci receiving pay The tendency would then be to leave all work to the paid staff. I t is much better to have hundreds of first aiders scattered through the various factories or at their daily work in the streets, ready for any accident that may occur. It is not in centralisation that the best work can be done. It is the sp reading abroad of the willing first aiders that meets the requirements of our large towns.

Then it shou ld a lso be a test of efficiency in the Police Force that each member must be a ho lde r o f a certificate of proficiency in first aid and s uch knowledge shoul? ?e kept and tested at periods of yearly exammatlOn. Here IS the golden opportunity of a service as. a.t present constituted .in our ranks. At times of special or of entertalt1ment of royal or distinguished VIsItors and at all the large gatherings of the citizens at or in public halls, the Brigade mto actIOn. 1 hIS leaves the po lice free for their own .duties, as well as efficiently safeguarding the public m tImes of stress or excitement.

:rhe Association and the Brigade have each their work under the Chapter of the Order, and the so th:lt it is impossible to disagree if attentIOn IS paId to that portion of it which has been so carefully defined. The Association teaches and the Brigade uti lise its pupi.ls, and it would be imposs ible for them to be governed m a better manne r than that la id down in regulat ions foresee the minimis ing of powe r If n ot t h e total extll1ctlOn o f the Association in the propose.d I t is a very high compliment that our Te'!tO?lC cousms h:lve paid us in adopting the methods an? pnnClples of procedure o.f the Order of St. Jo11n by fOl mlIlg the. great .Germ:ln SOCIety of the Good Samaritan on the. of counterpart in England. This is an apprecIatIVe eomplnnent for the organisation to which the St. John men have the honour to belong

L?cal and National control will be of far less value I.n engendenng enth usiasm, for it is the fee li ng of belong1l1g to a l.arge co r porate body that sus tains i ts volunteers and stImu lates their ambition to excel. It would be to away from the separate Corps thIS feelI ng of true comradesh ip with other lIke of men scattered throughout our Islands an? the D?mll110ns beyond t h e seas . To know that the Bngade such mer i torious serv ice with our t r oops in South AfrIca that the K1I1g was able t o say, " I am l>roud

t o be at the head o f so d ist ing ui shed a body o f me n " t o h ave as Gra n d Prio r of the Orde r and t o ac kn o wl edge as prese n t Head of the B r igade, H.R.H t he Prince of Wales, a re facts of sufficient weight to make us res ist alteration and to keep and imp r ove our standard by harder work and more constant attention to duty as loyal and obedient subjects to our King and Order. Local control tends to stifle such a feeling and it is necessary to combat any movement that wou ld tend to belittle even in the sm.allest degree the freedom of brotherhood which it is our happy Jot to be able to exe rcise in our wo rk for the Br igade under the present rq;i711!:

Each municipality wou ld have i ts different ideas of method and standard of efficiency and d r ill , and dress would be :llt ered to suit the whims of the various ru l ing bodies, and thus our independence and our close connection with the Order would be overthrown

In conclusion, to hand over the BrigaJe to Municipal control- with its petty jealousies- its often incompetent committees, its burdening of the a lr eady heavily laden rates, and its ch:lotic alteration of our constitution would be a National disaster and a deathblow to the hopes and lofty aspi rations of most of our members . " EFFICJENCY."

FOR MU ICIPAL CONTROL.

THIS quest ion is a most important one, and in view of the increasing demand for an efficient ambulance service in all large cities and towns where accidents and fires are now so frequently occurring with numerous casualties all mun icipal authorities should certainly give this their careful consideration.

There is but one way left open by which an efficient service could be maintained in England, and that IS on the same system as the St. Andrew's Ambulance Association carryon their splendid work in Scotlandnotably in Glasgow. I was there for some days, and closely watched the system unseen, and I am certain Lhat it is impossible to improve on the manner in which accidents and casualties are dealt with there, where they have the co-operation of the police who are all am bu lance men-and always quick to act-both in rendering first aid and calling a wagon and attendant by telephone. I have seen wagons turn out of stables in forty-five seconds and on the way . Of course, there is expense but nothing can be done without money. If;[ 2000 a year will provide this .very service in Glasgow, surely, our large EnglIsh CItIes and towns can afford a like sum. The objects and regulations of St. Andrew's Association are to be h igh l y commended as simple, easy and judicious, and although t he r e is no high order as a goal to its officers and members, it is, wit,bout doubt, the best ambu lance service in actual operation.

The local centres or the English Association are from having am bulance corps under their supe rvls!on or control, thereby being deprived of the strong pomt of the Scotch Association, for who is best able to judge. of the and needs of a city in this respectcltlzens or strangers? The answer can only be clt lzens, then why have ambu lance corps under the cont rol of persons who probably pay a visit once or t wice a year, let corps be und.er the entire contro l of promment reSIdents With regulations as the Scotch Assoc iation

Under the present existing state of affai l s, mfluentlal members of the English local cent res are powerle')s, and can only look on wlth regret and note the decrease in ambulance classes and interest in the work both fi n ancially and practicall y.

D ecembe r, 190 2 -F I RS T

Sever t he connectio n of the various Ra ilway Compa n ies wi th t he Briga d e, a n d what wou l d be l eft ? I ven t ure to suggest not 500 trained ambu lance men holding medalli ons. Taking into consideration this serious state of affairs, the best step to take for the public safety is to Mun icipalise the Am bulance Service.

Let every police constable and Fire Brigade man be trained in first aid - but not in his leisure time!

Establish ambulance depots at every Police Station in each city, with additional depots in prominent places. Equip each Police Station with an ambulance wagon where h orses are kept for F ire Brigade work or for Prison-vans. Enroll say twelve extra men as police constables, fire brigade and ambulance men, two to accompany and turn out to fires - their work being to render first aid.

Connect all ambulance stations by telephone to the central station, and also have power to demand the use of any telephone ncar when an accident occurs

Such a service as this would, when put into working order and all details arranged, be a great boon and would be appreciated by the public. The cost would be heavy the first year, but when worked in conjunction with the pol ice would not be so expensive as if worJ(ed independently, as rent, stabling, housing, lodgings, &c., would certainly be cbeaper und would not cost the ratepayer much more than a penny in the £ at its earliest stages, and would be less after the first year. A revenue would also be obtained by transporting persons who were in a posi tion to pay for such services

Finally, the control of the service would be under the Chief Constable of the City, who would be responsible to the \Vatch Committee, and thus there would be no fear of rival am bulance bodies trying to OLlSt each other in large public gatherings.

" A OnSER\'E R. "

[A guinea prize has been forwarded to each of writers of the above two articles. - ED. FA.

St. John Ambulance Association.

13EJ(a-lToN. - The Technical Education Committee held a !11cding, on December 4th, in the Beighton Board School, presided 0ver by 1\Ir J. G Bickell, who presented medallions and first aid certificates Arrangements have been made with the County Council for a course of lectures on sick nursing.

DU'TllE.-On Tuesday evening, December 2nd, a 1l10st successful concert and am bulance demonstration was he l d in the Upper Schoolroom, -Lieut.-Colonel Mellish occupying the chair. The platform was tastefully decorated with choice chrysanthemums, rerns, and other plants from Blytl1e Hall conservatorifs. The room was well filled with an appreciative au 1ience

The Rev. W. P Tw e ntyman presented, on behalf of the class, a beautiful carriage watch to Dr. Fisher Ward, Dawtry, \\·ho has been Honorary Surgeon Instructor to the class for the past three years. )r. Ward sui tably returned thanks

The H.ev. C. E. Scoll· il Ioncricfr proposed a Yote of thanks to Lieut.-Colonel Mellish [or presiding.

CR \NFoRD - Ambulance work has been taken up with much zest at Cranford. I n a population of 450 about fifty are ambu lance workers. The classes are being ron-

ducted by Mr. Paul Ro u gh t on, of Kettering, there thi rty mem bers in the men's class, and about twenty 111 the ladies' section , which has been started only th ree or four weeks

FARNHAi\L - The 20th annual meeting of this centre was held at the National Schools on Monday evening, November 24th. Mr. F. E. Furlonger was voted to the cb;...ir, and there was a. good attendance

The Hon. Secretary (Mr. A. Winslade) submitted his annual report, which stated that interest in the Association was sustained, and that the centre was spreading extensively. The number of clasc;es, too, was increasing Dr. Ealand gave a first aid course of lectures to men at Hale This class was now working under the centre. Dr. Hine also gave a first aid course of lectures to men at Badshot Lea, and it was very well attended. The number of cases attended to by members during the past year was not so heavy as duirng the previous year, viz., 48 as against 82 . The van was in demal1l1 for the majority of removals, and, in removing twenty-eight cases, traversed 212 miles. Two cases were removed to London, one to Guildford, and one to Ascot. The financial statement showed receipts amounting to £73 lOS. 3d., and an expenditure of £ ..p 14S. 9td., leaving a balance in hand of £ 3 0 ISS. 5 d

Mr. W. R. Worsam proposed that the report and balance sheet be approved, printed and circulated. He added that the report was highly satisfactory, and also thought they ought to congratulate on the that in :l year or two they would, comparatively speakmg, be one of the strongest centres in the country.

Mr. McConnochie seconded the motion, and it was carried

The officers were re-elected, excepting If. Lloyd, the deputy inspector of material, who was replaced by 1Ir. A Hewitt.

CLOUCESTER.-As usual, considerable local interest was evinced in the annual challenge shield competition held at the Public Baths in connection with the Gloucester Centre of the ...... J.A.A Surgeon-Major G. A (Official Organiser of the S.J.A.\..) was the examll1l11g judge.There were six competing teams. The PolIce were declared the winners of the shield, with 490 marks out of a possible 500. The C?rporati.on second 4 80 marks; the \lidland Radway tI-md WIth 470 the AllIngton fourth with 465 and Sherborne-street sixth with 4 2 5:

The shield has to be won three years 111 succeSSIOn to becomE' the absolute }Jroperty of the .holders. Last year the Midland Railway team were the. wmners. T.he PolLce have ·won the shield four times on dIfferent occaSIOns, once holding it for two years in

The mem bers of the wlI1nll1g team were each rewarded I,-ith a silver medal, and Mr. Councillor W. J. JohnstonVaughan presented silver medals to the members of the second team. The President J. 1. Collett, J.P .) made a gift of books to the team, and all the com}JeLi tors were presen ted with s}Jcctal certdicates HA::\'J)s\\ ORTII. This centre held their annual competition, for the Bayley Lees Challenge Cap, on 29th. 1)r. Scott "' ilson, of \\ 'a lsall, was the examll1er, and he had the assistance of 1\1r. J. H. Jack:on. The Birmingham Railway Carriage and W8gon "'.orks Class were first, with 82 points the HandslYorth PolIce seco?d, \v ith 8 points· and the H andsworth ParIsh Church thIrd,

with 76. It was stated amidst applause that 1\1r. W. E. Pearson would give medals to the first and second teams

IVITHERNSEA.-This centre held a social and musical evening and distribution of certiilcates by Mrs. H. Reckett, of ,Vinestcad Hall, on December 4th.

LEYL\?\]). - The annual soiree in connection with the Leyland and Farington sections of the S.J.A.A. took place on Saturday evening, November 29th, at Bashall's School, when there was a crowded attendance. A capital programme of dance music was gone through by the Farington Mill Prize Band The M.e's were Messrs. J. S. Fernley, R. Holmes, and R. Cocker. The refreshment stall was in charge of the "Misses Fazackcrley, assisted by }VIr. James Prescott and Mr. W. Jackson. Songs werC' rendered by Messrs. Riding and Lambert, and Misses Nelson, Barnes and Riding. Mr. J. Prescott gave a reading, and Mr. Arthur Sumner was an excellent humorist. J\Ir. J. J. Yates playeu the accompaniments.

OTLEY CENTl'(E.-A conference was held in the Drill Hall of the 2nd W.Y.v.R.E., Clay Pit-lane, Leeds, on Decem ber 9th. Delegates from the following centres were to consider the advisability of making concerted application to the West JZiding c.c. to have ambulance work scheduled as a subject of technical instruction and other business of interest to ambulance workers: Harrogate, Dewsbury, Bradford, Skipper, Otley, Halifax and Huddersfield. The following resolutions were passed :-

Proposed by Dr. Evans (Bradford), seconded by Mr. W. Beaumont (Otley), "That 1\1r. R. Gadie, hon. sec. I-leavy Woolen District Centre be Chairman."

Proposed by Mr. Jowett (Huddersfield), seconded by Ir. Firth (Bradford), "That this meeting recommend to St. John's Gate that in future all first aid classes formed in a district where a centre already exists should be formed through the said centre, and that all applications to St. John's Gate for first aid classes, and stores in connection with the classes, should ue referred by St. John's Gate to the local centre."

Proposed by Mr. Thomes (Dewsbury), seconded by Mr. Scott. (Halifax), "That a deputation of 3 await upon Mr. V. Dixon, clerk to the West Riding ee, at a con".enient date, with a view to obtaining a technical instructlOn grant for all classes held in connection with centres of the. S.J.A.A., the deputation to consist of Mr. R. Gadie, c.hamnan, 1\1r. Edwards (Otley), secretary, and a representative from Harrogate.". The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman and to Col. Dawson and the ?fficers of the 2nd W.Y.R.E.V. for their kindness in grantIl1g the free usc of the room.

ST. IVEs.-An ambulances class consisting mainly of fishermen, has been formed here, and is being conducted by Dr. Nicholls.

, \Ve have had the pleasure of reading a history of t le Order of St. John, by the Rev. W. K. 1<.. Bedford and Colonel Holbeche. The work, which deals with the work of the Or.der since its inCepli?n is carefully compiled, and its many lI1tercslll1g chapters Will be read with pleasure by those hun.dreds who are anxIous to learn and know about that anCient order, whose knights have giyen us that valuable organisatIOn, the St. John Ambulance Association \\'e offer our congratulations to the joint aUlhors, and we predict for book a ready sale. I is published by !'1essrs. f E. Roblllson a·le1 Co., and is profusely illustrated. The price IS 7S. 6cl.

AI D.- December, 1902

St . John Ambulance Brigade.

METROPOLITAN CORPS.

THE SURGEO;\TS OF ST. JOlIN.-At the meeting of the Associat'on of the Honorary Surgeons of S.J.A.B., held at the Hotel Cecil on Thursday, ovember 27th, it was stated that they had already enrolled 83 mem bers. Deputy-inspector General Matthew COJ.tcs, M.l )., R. ., was elected presideni, and afterwards took the chair at [he first annual dinner. Among the mem bers present were Mr. James Cantlie and Drs. John Brown, R.N., Molloy (Blackpool), Audland (Wellingborough), Wood, Carvell, Maitland-Coffin, J. J. Marsh (hon. secretary); the guests including Mr. Wm. Turner (Westminster Hospital), and Lieut.-Colonel E. Tufnell, M.P.

Io. ST. JOHN'S C r\TE DIVISlO .-On Saturday e\'ening, December 13th, the above division held tbeir third annual dinner at the CO;lch and Horses, Clerkenwell, a hostelry wbich will always appeal to ambulance men and ambulance firemen, who will remember the kindly interest that ,yas taken in their welfare by the genial hostess (Mrs. Harvey) while they were biIleLted in Clerkenwell. The chair, in the absence of the upt., was taken by 1st Class Sergt. Cox, who was supported by Brigade Chief Supt. Church Brasier, Chief Supt. Morgan, Councillor Garrity (Finsbury Borough Council), Messrs. Jesse Argyle, A. A. Smith, R. l\Ianley, 1'. B. I10rsl11an, G. B. Stone, 1st Class Sergt. J. Lowe, &c. General regret was expressed at the absence of the Supt. of the Division, who was to have been the recipient of a testimonial promoted by and subscribed for the members of the division

Speeches were made by seyeral of the members present, and the proceedings were interspersed by songs and recitations, &c. A most enjoyable evening was spent, and the idea was generall y expressed that were there more of th ese social evenings in the metropolitan corps it would be better for the metropolitan ambulance work.

December, 1902. -FIRS'!'

once again exemplified the fact that matters in connection with Toyn bee are excellently carried out. The programme was contributed to by Madame Alice Motterway, Madame Ella Jackson, Mr. Barry Lindon, Mr. Samuel Masters, Mr. J. Sydney Leete, as vocalists; Mr. R. Carrodus (violin), Mr. R. R. Hopkins (silver bells), and 1r. Hill James (organ), instrumentalists; 1\1r. Malcolm Johnston, acco11:panist; 1\Ir. Barclay Gammon (humOrist). Tbat their efforts were successful was testil1ed to by the numerous demands for encores, and in most instances these w:re complied with. The more onerous part of the orgal1lsation was entrusted to Mr. Chas. Statham (secretary to the concert committee), and he is heartily to be congratulated on the evening's results, artistically, numerically, and, we hope, financially, far undoubtedly everything in the way of equipment for the men of S.J.A.B. must tend towards good. The men bave the enthusiasm that tends to success; they are well drilled; well taught in-the principles tbey and with proper appliances can, and do, help effiCiently 111 cases of accident and emergency. It is hoped that the result al the concert may materially add to the stores of the men of Toynbee. The concert was under the of 1\1 r. Leonard T. Hore, wh iIe mem bers of the dlvlSlOn 111 their neat uniform acted as stewards with courtesy and an evident desire for the comrort of those \\'ho favoure:l them ,,·ith attendance. Among tbose present were: Chief-Suptl\Iorgan, SUjJt. Pontin, Supt. Piers, Supt. Ol!ey, Supt. Kimber, 1st Officer H. Langley Jones, 2nd Officer Colel11all, and a number of the nursing sisters anu members of neighbouring divisions.

PROVl.NCIAL CORPS.

ACCRINGTON. - The annual ball under the allspices of this Corps was held in the large room of th.e Central Conservative Club, on the 2nd lt1St. The affmr was extremely successful. George Thornton s band played for dancing, .the r-.r.c.'s being Dr. Greenhalgh, Supt. Bullock, and Firs Officer Barnes, Ptes. Roberts, Tasker, Burgess.

At!) -

for some time past in our city. A collection was taken on behalf af the brigade funds.

T OR1H .\:\lPTO);!. -The annual dinner of this corps was held on Friday, 1 ovember 28th, at the Town Hall, Northampton. The gathering was the largest and most successful of its kind which has yet been held in connection with the corps. The President (the Marquis of Northampton) was in the chair.

Replying to the toast of the S.J.A.A. tbe noble :Marquis said that the Association had shown that not only could it do good humanitarian work in the time of peace, but that it was also a necessary body when dire stress of war overtaok the country. He thought they coulu congratulate the Association on baving taken a foremost place amongst the associations of the country, anu it was a great pride to him as President ot the Corps, to know that the Northampton Corps stood so high amongst all the centres of the throughout the land. IIe would like to see the Torthampton Centre strengthened by the strengthening of the districts outside N ortbampton. Tben they required a good headquarters in their town. It was obvious from their work that a good headquarters was really necessary. The noble I\larqyis ventured to suggest that if it was true tbat t.he Corporation was going to allow Northampto.n somethll1g was urcrentiy ueeded-a new Fire StatIOn, the old one mIght be to the Ambulance Association Headquarters. The noble President subsequently presented the cup and other prizes won at the recent competitions. This interesting ceremony o,'er, the :Marqui.s of ortha.mpton departed amid loud cheers, and the chair was occupied by }VIr. Cooper; further speeci1making, followed.

\YORKSOP. - The report of the recent examination by I k J. W. :Martin (Sheffield) of the candidates in connection with this Division shows that out of 33 only t\\"o failed to pass.

st. An d rew's Ambulance Association.

"CLERKE;\TWELL DETACHED."-At

the meeting of the Homsey District Council on Tuesday, Decem ber 19th, it was announced tbat the negotiations with regard to the transfer from the area of the Finsbury Borough Council to that of the Homsey Council of the small tract of land at Muswell Hill, known as "Clerkenwell Detached," bad been completed, and that an appeal to the Privy Council had resulted in the amount of compensation payable to the Finsbury Council by Homsey being fixed at £ 2,53 6- a sum less than tbat which Homsey had offered to settle the matter amicably by £17 S. Thus ceases 'to exist an interesting link with the Middle Ages. "Clerkenwell Detached" owes its creation to the establisl1ment ot a monastery at Muswell Hill hy the Knights Hospitallers of the Qrder of St. John of Jerusalem, wbose head monastery was in Clcrkenwell. When the knights were disbanded the site of the monastery at Muswell Hill became attached to the area of Clerkenwell. It was close by this spot that the first camp of in"'truction in connection with the St. Jobn Ambulance Brigade was belel. We think tbat if some of the l1lem bers who attended those early camps could revisit the spot they would scarcely recognise the present surroundings.

TOYNUEE

ASllBURTOr .-The members of this division of the S.J..A.B. held a. demonstration in. with a distribution of certIficates and medallIons 111 tbe ::\Iarket Hall, Ashburton, on Friday evening, November 28th. There was a large attendance. Colonel l\..mery, J.p., ee, presided.

BuxTON.-The report for the year shows that tbe income of this Division totalled £5 0 ISS. rod., and expenditure £ 58 3s. 2d.

COLNE. At the annual meeting on Tuesday evening, 25 th ultmo., a of.a pbotograph of the ex-President (Mr. Wilham WIIkmson) was made to thiS Division.

HORF1ELD.-On Sunday, the 8th inst., nearly 100 members of the S.J.A B including Dr. l--layman (Chief uperintendent) attended Divine Ser:ice. at the Horfleld Baptist Church, Gloucester-road.. peclal hYI:111S used appro'Jriate for the occaSIOn, and an ImpreSSlye sermon was 1 preached by the Pastor (Rev. R. C. Griffin), \\'ho took for his subject the Gooel Samaritan (S. Luke x., "3 3' "5)· In the course or his remarks, the preacher , J rib' d said hoI\' glad he was to see so 111:111)' 0 tle riga e present [bat morning, and to hear of the work done the past. A great work bad been qUietly done by the brigade

STIRLlC\G. - The fifth of tbe pre ent series of entertainments conducted under the auspices of the local Ambulance Corps, was held. in the :\mbulance Hall on November 24th, when MISS nIacklllnon, 1Iax\\'ell-place, assisted by a party of friends, gave a .very fine c?ncert. Ir. w. Dow, captain of the corps, occupled the chalr.

FUR TEss. - An interesting gathering took at the Town-hall, Barrow, last month, under tbe auspices of the Furness Railway Centre of the S.J..\.i\., when four teams representing the varioes diyisions of competed for a handsome sih-er challenge shield, glven by the directors as a stimulus to in tbe matter of rendering aid. The proceedings were largely attended, an.d the contests were keenly contested. Subseguen_tly a public meetino- was held, when Sir John T. Hibbert, k.C.B., presided, announced the result of the contest follows:

I, Barrow; 2, Ulverston; 3, Moor Row; 4,. I\Illlom. He then formally presented challenge shIeld, and al.so handed the sih'cr medals gl ven by lr. H LInter, to s G T. Wilkes, W. Firth and J. Wilson (Barro\\') ; T. 1 ),SOI1 ; and A Johnsol1 (Clark). th,e tillcatc and medallions werc gracefully dlstnbuted b) 1\[1 S: who, at the conclusion of the ceremony, was heal til) applauded.

HALL DIVISION.-The concert organised by thls well-recognised East London division, held at the People's Palace on November 27th, proved a success, and I J

Baker Complimentary Benefit.

TIm Committee have decided on holding the complimentary benefit to Mr. Cecil Baker (" Cecil Graeme") at the Freemasons' Tavern on January 14th, 1903. Arrangements are in the hands of The Association of Concert Artistes and Entertainers. The question has been asked whether donations towards the fund will be accepted, the Committee wish to advise all sympathisers that they will gladly recei\'e such donations, some have already been received and are acknowledged below

The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Knutsford, G.c.:'Il.G.

l\Iessrs. Dale and Reynolds

Capt. H. Folker ( N.F.I3.U.)

J. C. Derham, Esq., Asst. Comm. S.J.A.n. [Ion. Surgeon]. F Yolland, S.J.A.13.

Supt. J. F. Shelley, Herne I3ay A.C.

Railway Ambulance.

On November 23rd the annual distribution of gold and silver medals and illuminated certificates to amb ulance men emp loyed by the Midland Railway Company took place at the Midland Institute, Derby From returns sent it appears that first aid has been rendered in 1,500 cases of duri ng the year ended 30th Septem ber; 128 apphcatIOns for awards had been in co nn ectio n with roo cases of accident, and the comm itte e had decid ed to award I2 gold medals, 49 si lv er medals, 5 illuminated certificates, and to endorse further record of services or illuminated certificates which had been awarded preVIOusly. Of the 63 men in the service of the Midland Railway Company who were engaged in ambulance work during the war in South Africa, twelve had resumed duty

December, 19 0 2. -F

seco nd ed, that a vote of condolence be recorded in the minutes of th e Union and forwarded to the relatives of the late In spector-General Fernandez, of the Oporto Fire Brigade, who was so well known and respected by all members of the Council.

National Fire Brigades Union.

CENTRAL meeting was held at Clifford's Inn Hall, Fleet-street, London, E.c., on N ovember 19 th . There were present Lieut.-Colonel Seabroke, in the chair Captains Miller (Leytonstone), Westbrook (T unbridge Wells), Lieut.-Colonel Dixon ( utton), Captains Banbury (Woodstock), Dyer (Alton), Green (Stafford) Vernon (High Wycombe), Sinnock (Burgess Hill), Sellens (Crowborough), Restler (Vauxhall), Pizey (Chingford), Roper (Leeds), Levy (Rochester), Peters (Sittingbourne), Major R. C. Davis (Hoole), Captain W. Conwy Bell (Bodrhyddan), Li eut. J. O. Hughes (Bodrhyddan), Captain Gardner (Stroud), Mr. E. O. Sachs, B.F.P.C., Mr Ellis Marsland, B.F.P.C., 11r. Charles Kusel (London), Lieut Fennell ( ewhaven Harbour), Captains Richards (Warwick), Boucher ( orthfleet), Scott (Bradford), Woollard (Ilford), Knight (Oundle), Ir. A. T. Dale (London), Dr. Ettles, and Supt Poncerot (Ambulance Department), Mr . R. Shaw ( 1anchester), Mr. Tabor (Reading), Captain Clulee, J.P. (Brierley Hill), Major Harrison (Chester), Ir. H. G. Marshallsay (Aldershot), Captains Shearburn (Dorking), Bell Major Fox, L.S.c., Captains Pett (Exeter), Graham (Hampton), Mr. W. R. Harris, assist8.nt secretary; Mr. Horace S. Folker, honorary general secretary .

The minutes of the last meeting were duly read and signed . The Long Service Medal Committee presented its report and recommendation for long service medals, which was duly confirmed.

A letter was read from 1Ir. R. B. Issac, of Liverpool, offering to present the Union with medals for brayery. r\fter due consideration it was resolved to thank 1\Ir. I saac for his kind offer, and also to express regret that the 111 on were unable to accept it

The election of the following Brigades was then confirmed :-

OFFlO::RS OF THE LONDON PRIVATE FIRE BRIGADES' ASSOCIATION.

the 16th inst., at a meeting of the London County the chairmanship of Sir. John McDougall , the Genel al I urposes reported m the earlier part of last they were Il1formed of an offer to present to the Council an ambulance, to be used for the conveyance of Il1Jured 111 the streeLs. The offer involved the consideratIOn of. a l.arg.e question, and a sub-commit tee was apPolJ1tedto lI1qL1lre mto and report upon the present ambulance service of London. The committee now recommended should IJ1structed to report further on the subjec t. Sit Co II IJ1S assUJ:ed the Council, in reply to Mr. that the commIttee had not acted in any antagonIstiC. to the excellent voluntary efforts which were beincr carried oUL l.n.Lond<;>n; but the impression left on hi5 mind by the 1I1qulTles whIch .had been made was that the existing system was very defectIve. It was stated that at one hospital out of 1,000 persons Injured acciclenLs over 600 of them had to be taken to the hospital JJ1 cabs or carts.

with. the company, and were presented with the illuminated certIficate.

ST. J ORN'S G,\TE URSING DIVJSlON.-The nursina officers and sisters of this division had their annua l bution of clothing for the aged poor and little ones of Clerkenwell on Wednesday, December 17th. About 500 th e result of twelve months' devoted \York were g iv en away, and when our representative visited the Crypt the Old Church of St. John, dear to tb e workers of f!l'st ald, he found the sisters bard at work giving away' garments to one and all, young and old, and cakes, oranges and sweets for youngsters. It is good work, and :ve honour these kll1dly hearted ladies for their devotIOn to these poor par ishio n ers of th e genial rector of S t. John

Irthlingborougb, Abergele, Eastry, Bexley Heath, Bexley, Llangollen, Maidstone Borough, Haverfordwest, Upchurch (near Rainham), WhetIey Mills, Bradford, Triumph Cycle Works, Teddington, Abertillery, Foots Crav, Sevenoaks U.D.C., Halstead, Tenby, Bloxham, Eas't Stonehouse, Cow bridge.

Th e following honorary mem bers were elected:- Ir. F Evison Cbief Officer Stein, Melbourne Captain Owers, Great Yarmouth.

Th e Honorary General Secretary reported that Hi s Imp e ri a l MajesLY the Ge rm an Emperor had been ple8sed to confer lbe Orclel of the Red Cross 0f the Third Class On Mr. K O. Sachs, British Fire Prevention Committee: 'Major Fox, London Sa lvage Corps; 1\Ir. S. G. Gam ble, Second Officer of the Metropolitan Fire Brig Lde ; and the Honorary General Secretary (Horace S. Folker).

Hi s Majesty King Edward VII. gracio u sly gave permission for the decoration to be worn.

Major Fox proposed and Lieut.-Colonel Dixon

The Tournament Committee reported on the proposed International Fire Exhibition, at Earl's Court London from 1\lay to October, 1903, and the Secreta'ry read letter from the Chairman of the British Fire Prevention Committee, inviting the Union to join them. 1\1r. E. O. Sachs, chairman of the B.F.P.C., then addressed the Committee, going fully into details.

It was proposed by Lieut.-Colonel Dixon, and seconded by :'\Iajor Fox, that the Union accept the invitation of the British Fire Prevention Committee to take part in the forthcoming International Fire Exhibition next year.

Captain Miller proposed and was seconded by Captain Hill, that the arrangements be left with the Tournament Committee, with power to act, also to appoint a special Executive Committee.

The following gentlemen ,vere then elected Official Delegates [or the I nternational Fire Prevention Congress July, 19 0 3 :-

His Grace the Duke of l\Iarlborough, K.G ; LieutColonel Seabroke, Rugby Lieut.-Colonel Dixon, utton, Surrey; Major Fox, London Salvage Corps; Captain Dyer, Alton Captain Folker, Guildford; Dr. Ettles, London Captain Dyson, Windsor; Captain Gragam, Hampton; Captain Westbrook, Tunbridge , Yells; Captain Miller, Ley ton ; Captain Hill, Bedford; C. Herbert Brown, Esq., London

1Ir. E. O. Sachs and 11r. Ellis Marsland were elected members of the Tournament Committee.

A letter was read from 1essrs Stuart and Moore offering to put up a Fire Station at the Exhioition flee of charge. The matter was referred to the Tournament Executive Committee.

Dr. Ettles presented the Union with the copyright of his book-First Aid ill tile .Fire Service On the proposal of Surgeon-1\lajor Harrison, seconded by Lieut.-Colonel Seabroke, a vote of thanks was record{ d to Dr. Ettles for his gift.

The question of increasing the amount for extra clerical assistance to Headquarters was discussed, and a grant of £50 \ YaS made.

The Secretary reported the death of Fireman Harris, of Aldershot, who was insured against death by accident for £200, the Insurance Company having refused to pay the amount. A long discussion ensued on the q u estion, which it is not desirable to publish until the claim is settled.

A vote of thanks was recorded in the minutes to Sir Thomas Dewar, 1I.P., for the handsorr:e Challenge Shield presented by him for steamer competition Also to 11r. E. O. Sachs for the Silver Challenge Cup for hose carts

It was decided to recommend that the International Fire Bureau should take place at Buda-Pesth in 190..]..

The following special Sub-Committee was to look after the interests of the General ExhlbltIOn:Lieut.-Colonel Dixon Sutton; 1r. Horace S. Folker, h onorary general secretary, Guildford; Captain Dyer, Alton; Dr. Ettles, London: Captain Graham Hampton.

The pecial of the ment was elected as follows :-Lleut.-Colonel Dixon, chairman, Sutton; ?\Iajor Fox, L. c.; Captain Alton' Second Officer lIarshallsay, \.l dershot; CaptaJl1 Dysor:, Windsor; Captain Graham, Hampton; Captain

-F I RST

Vernon, High Wycombe; Horace S Folker, honorary general secretary. "

The election of the folloWIng SpeClal Sub-CommIttee for Union Exhibits took place, viz. :-Captain Ciulee, J.p., Brierley Hill; Captain Pett, Exeter; Captain 'Westbrook, Tunbridge Wells.

A vo(e of thanks to the chairman then terminated the meeting.

SOUTHERN DrSTRICT.-The autumn meeting was held at Gosport, on Monday December ISt. There present Captains Harrison, J.P (Ryde), in the. chtl.lr; Hetherington (Alton), Foreman Hattreel and SIX men (Sandown), Captain Evans and six men (Basingstoke), Captain Sutton (Fareham), Captains Sapworth (Ryde), Rayner (Shanklin), Stent (Ravant), Mortimer and ten men (Gosport), three men from "Aldershot, District HOll. Secretary Mr. Marshallsay, (Aldershot), Hon General Secretary Folker (Guildford).

The minutes of tbe last meeting were read and signed and the balance sheet and accounts passed, which showed, after paying all liabilities a balance at the Bank of £5 5s 3d

The election of officers for the ensuing year then took place and the follo,,"ing gentlemen were elected :--Lord Wolverton, district president; Captain G. H. Harrison, J.P., chairman, Ryde; Captain Dare, vice-chairman, Sandown; Second Officer H. G. district secretary and treasurer; J. Clemson, assistant secretary, Aldershot.

Delegates to Central Council :-Captains Evans (lhsingstoke), Hetherington (Alton), and Lane (Bornemouth).

..:\. vote of condolence was passed to the relatives of tbe late Fireman Harris, of Aldershot.

A discussion took place on the question of "Local Authorities insuring their Brigades against all accidents."

The Hon. General Secretary gave a short address on the working of the Union, the International Fire Exhibition and Congress, J 903, and the necessity of Brigades taking a keener interest in and supporting the "Widows' and Orphans' Fund, so that larger grants might be made to deserving cases.

The meeting adjourned to luncheon at the Crown Hotel, when J. H. Treacher, Esq., J.P., chairman of the District Council, presided.

-,\'fter luncheon the Firemen were conveyed in a steam launch to H.1\I.S, VerllOIl, and by the kind permission of Officer Commanding the ship, they were taken over and shown all the latest inventions aboard her.

The meeting proved a great success and the Delegates departed well pleased.

As a result of the call on the Voluntary Death Levy Fund of the Eastern District, the sum of £ I 5 T 8s. has handed over to the relatives of the late S. J. King, Chlef Grays (Essex) I,'ire Brigade, who died of pneumonw. on Oct. 16th.

The Executive Committee have appointed the (olio\\,dates for the National Competitions for the Challenge Shields, to take place at Earl's Court ExhibiLion, from J.;l1y 10th to J.8th, Friday, Joth: T.ational Escape c: hallenge Shield. Saturday, II th: Tatlonal Steamer Challenge Shield. ::'I10nday, 13th: Tationed Hose Cart Challenge Shield; May-Oatway Challenae Cup. Tuesda\' h N · 0 to ;, 14t: atlOnal ne ]\1an Challenge Cup; 'ac hs Hose Cart Challenge Cup. Wednesday, 15th: National l\lanual

Challenge Cup; Squad Drill Challenge Cup. Thursday, 16th: National Ambulance Challenge Cup) Green Manual Challenge Cup. Friday, I 7th: Clinton Challenge Shield; Tational Knot Challenge Cup Saturday, r8th: National Dewar Challenge Shield

The London Pr iv ate F ire Brigades' As soci a t ion.

\. ])IX::-IER to the the Officers of the above Association WJ.S held at Reggiori's Restaurant, Euston -road, on Saturday, 13 th inst. Among those present were Major Fox, L.S.c., Chief Officer W. J. Church Brasier (in the chair), Rev T. W Wood (hon. chaplain), Mr. Tempany (hon. solicitor), Chief Officer Spears (hon . treasurer), Mr. Supt. Rushforth (hon. secretary), 1\1r. Isaacs (Liverpool), and Mr. Morgan (Chief-Superintendent S.J.AB.). The dinner was well sen'ed and heartily appreciated

The Chairman proposed H.1\l. the King and the rest of the Ropl family.

The Imperial Forces was the next toast. The Chairman referred to the gallantry of our soldiers during tbe hte war in South Africa.

Sub-Officer Wood, in replying, said he had the honour of serving in South Africa and was brought into close contact not only with the Home but also with the Colonial Forces, and that he felt sure that with the co-operation of the Colonials, Britain would rennin the predominant pO\\"er of the world.

The Bishops and Clergy of all Denominations, being proposed by the Chairman, in the course of his speech remarked how glad he was to have the honour of proposing this toast and to couple with it the nJ.l1le of th e ir H o n. Chaplain, anel, he felt sure, that the more tbe Officers and men of the London Pri\'a te Fire Brigades .\.ssociation knew of their Chaplain the more they would like hi 111.

The lIon. Chaplain (Re\'. T. 'Y. Wood), in replying to the toast, said he would like to take that opportunity of thanking the members of the L.P.F B.A. [or baving honoured him by electing him their chaplain. The rev . gentleman then spoke of the good work being done by the clergy in London. Continuing, the Hon. Chaplain said some people imagined tbat a parson's life was an easy one, but he could assure them that it was nothing of the kind. Before resuming his seat, he referred to the lamentable illn ess of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The rev. gentleman also added that he trusted the L.P.F.B A. would not let him be their honorary chaplain in name only but that he ",'Quid like to be of some real service to the Association, and he hoped if there was anything he could do that they would let him know.

Major Fox proposed the London Private Fire Brigades' Association, be said he had come there not with the intention of making a speech, but to spend a pleasant time with men who had on many occasions so ably supported him. It gave him great pleasure to be at that dinner, and added, that he knew what splendid work the L.P.F.B.A. was doing, and, at more than one fire, he had found tbem to be willi!1g workers

The Hon. Secretary (Mr. Supt. Rushforth) responded, thanking IV1ajor Fox, L. ·.C, for his kind words, and assured him that he would always be able to rely on the men of London PriY.lte Fire Brigades' As ociation doi ng their duty when occasion arose.

The Chairman then presented ·upt. W. J. Rushforth with an e ngrJ.yd plate and key, which, he explained,

December. I902 -F I RST

b elonged to the desk which the had presented to Mr. Rushforth fo r his valuable serVIces as Honor.ary Secre tary to the Association, cheers and mUSIcal honours accompanied the presentatIOn. NIr. Supt. Rushforth (who was heartIly recelved) briefly replied, thanking both the of the L.P F.B.A. [or all Lheir kindness to hIm dunng hiS. term of office and also for the present and for their good WIshes for his future career.

Mr. Tempany (Han. Solicitor to the AssoCiatlOn) proposed" The Sister Services," viz. : the London Salvage Corps, and the St. J?hn Ambulance Brigade He spoke h ighly of the splendId work done by the L.S.c. also the S.J.A.B, and he was sure that as the Hon of the L.P.F.B.A. he was very glad to see ox and Chief-Supt. Morgan them and great pleasure in proposll1g the. SerVIces, with them the names of Major F ox and Chlef-Supt. Morgan, respectively.

.

In replying, Major Fox said he was very to command the London Salvage Corps, he saId :t was not himself that made the L.S.c. so efficlent-b.ut. Jt was the men themselves. He thanked the ASSOCiation For baving so kindly invited him to be present and coupllllg bis name with the toast, and he trusted he would be among them on many occasions.

.,

1\1r. Morgan referred to very trYI.ng the S.J.A.B. had just gone through. m. connectlC?n WIth the Coronation festivities, and he said It was entirely due to the energy of the men that the had .turned out so well on all occassions when reqmred for public duty.

Chief-Officer Spears (Hon. Treasurer L.P.F.B.A.) proposed the toast of "the Chairman." He stated that he had known NIr. Brasier for some years,. and felt sure that the Association had the right man 111 the. nght place, for he was a splendid worker and a popular He had on many occasions help.ed the out C?f difficulties and had now put It on such a baSIS that It would be difficult to overthrow.

The History and Development of Manual, Steam and Motor Fire Engines.

By CHAS. T. CROWDEN, tI.c.E.I., tI.L.A.F E , M.S.A., &c., &c

(Cont/mud from page 75.)

Fig 6 I was const:-ucted by. Merryweathe:s in r899, utilising one of theIr eXlstll1g engll1es, and IS dnven .by the sa me engine that drives the pumps,. when. propelling the pump pistons are disconnected. ThiS engll1e was, I be-

Ii eve, supplied to India, but I don't think they e.ven looked upon it as a serious order, and apparently. dId not put themselves much out of the way to It.

Fig. 62 gi ves an end view of thiS machme.

Fig. 63 shows one of twist b.ar engl?eS adapted as a motor by the author, for Normch Ul1lon Insurance Co., " 'orce ster, in 1900. It IS so arranged that the propelling engine and framework can be attached or

V" "H

The Chairman, in response said was de.eply touched at the manner in wbich they had received thls toast. He had only clone his duty, and he could not have performed this so thoroughly had he not had a man Mr. Supt. Rushforth as his right hand aid to back hlln up. He thanked the Officers for tbe support they had given bim and trusted that he would ?e. to see the London Private Fire Brigades' ASSOCIatIOn Itlcrease and prosper.

Chief-Officer Camplin proposed "The \ ISItors. e bad not come prepared to make a speech, but he could say that it was a pleasant duty to perform, that of osing "The Visitors." He trusted that on futme he would see them another gathenng ot that kind, and with that toast he WIshed to couple the names of Mr. Cleaver and 1r. Evans.

Messrs. Cleaver and Evans bnefly rephed: .The speeches were interspersed with excellent songs, reCitatlOns, &c

detached by removing two bolts from .two brackets I f . e This engine can be dnven from the drn er s to t 1e ram . t the seat or control le,'ers such as throttle reversll1g gear a . driver's side. It be readily got way < lbs. of steam at a speed from ..j. to 8 miles an bour, With i lbs steam at about I2 miles an hour. A great of ealous;' has been set up by rival .n:anufacturers M· Thirion, the engine and fire appliances J1:anufacturcr, {his engine, and newspaper rep.orts glnng false descn p tlO fi l1S of Paris, paid a flying "isit to LOI:don at the end or last have been circulated, so trYll1g to preyent mC?tor re d 1· e to business espeCIally as the London Count) . I d aeneral ThIS enall1e an was;) IV , .' engines from becommg popu ar an to' to Council Brigade haye started drilling men In ASK YOUR NEWSAGENT TO SUPPLY "FIRST AID " bVERY MONTH.

I L 1 Le) ·to11sto11C Fire Brig'acle are going to T 1e cyton ane <. have a chcmical engine.

FIG. 61.

FIG. 62.

-F IRST

is not fi tt ed wi th a two speed gear. I t has clim bed every bill it has met without stopping so far.

Fig. 64 is another view of this eng in e

Fig. 65 shows tbis engine under test by Major Fox, of the London Salvage Corps

AID.- December, 1902

is a description of th e" Eccles" engine according to Tit bits, 7th December, 1901 :-

" The t?wn in England to do away with horses at the. fire statIOn IS. Eccles. The. mayor has supp li ed the engme bouses powerful httle motors, which have proved successful 111 every way. The engine carries five

.)'

1;'[(;. 63.

Fig. 66 shows the wbeels specially designed and construc ted for use with motor vebicles. The boxes were large in diameter two sets of bolts. The wood spokes are double the thIckness at the hub than they are at the

Fl(; 66. men, four l.adders, 300,Yards of hose, two standpipes and other I t IS dnven by a seven horse-power water-cooled engine fitted with variable Igl1ltIOn."

This may be a good advertisement for Eccles! Can any fireman or engineer explain it?

( To be contillued.)

London Salvage Corps Swimming Clu b.

THE annual meeting and concert of the above Club was on Monday .evening, 15th December, at the Southwark Bndge-road StatLOn Tbe usual business meeting commenced at 7.30 o'clock when the annua l accounts were and passed. The Secretary's Report also SU?l11ltted and adopted. for the ensuing year duly elected, VIZ :-.Presldent, Major Fox ViceI Cole Secretary, Mr. 'V. J. myth .

])ecember, 1902. -F IRST

SPECIALLY CONTRIBUTED. The British Fire Service. *

By T. G DYSO T

Chief Officer of the Fi1'e TVindsor; llIe17tber of tlze

E xecutive oj tlte GraJld I11fenzational Council of Fire B1'l/{ades, the Plational Fire Union, and tlte Britislt Fh'e Prevention Committee; jJlember of tlze LOJZdon ClwlIlLler of COI1l1llC1'Ce .F'in Protectioll Committee, mid 11fembe1' oj If017 011 l' of tlte Frellc/z, and Ausb'ian Fire Brt/;ades' Fede1'ati01ls

(Continued from page 75·)

In 18 97, the late Queen Victoria and the Dowager Empress of Germany graciously inspected some 2,000 officers and men, with upwards of 100 engines and appliances at Windsor in connection with the Diamond Jubi lee festivities there.

Th e Fire Service had the honour of being represented at th e funeral of Q u een Victoria.

The whole of the above arrangements were carried out by the Volunteer Fire Service.

In Great Britain Fire Brigades come under one or other of tbe following classes :-

I. -Professional Brigades constituted and regulated by special or local Acts of Parliament, such as London, Mancbcster, Liverpool, Edinburgh, Dublin, &c

Il .-Professional Brigades employed and kept up by Fire In surance Companies, as at Canterbury, Gloucester, Shrewsbury, ·Worcester, &c.

IlL-Professional Brigades equipped and maintained by local authorities under powers contained in General Acts of Parliament, as Aston, Brighton (Police), Exeter, Portsmouth, &c.

AI D.- 93

subst ant ial leather with a stout metal buckle from which in a poucb on the left side, a light ax'e curved and po:nted at .one. end and a sharp cutting edge at the other, a gUlde or hangs on the right side and is usually fifteen III serge trousers reaching below the knee WIth elastIC run 111 the bottoms, a woollen jersey socks and hand sewn Wellington sbaped boots with st.tff tops, complete a dress which is easily donned, and to Sir Eyre Massey Shaw (formerly Chief Officer of the Fire Brigade), may be given the main credit of this useful and serviceable uniform.

Apptt'a71ces -Tbe appliances generally found in most t owns are light fire escapes-usually run by hand-capable of b.eing raised from 40 ft. to 80 ft., jumping sheets or nets, scah!1g-ladders and ropes, complete the life-saving appliances; although a few Bngades have recently adopted the Pompier ladders and horsed fire escapes. Steam fire engines-generally London made-weighing from IS CWt. to two tons, capable of tbrowing 240 to 450 gallons of water per minute and raising 100 It)s. of steam from cold water in ten minutes, are usually to be met with and for lightness, durability and power combined are not to be equalled in any country. The hose is of cam'as inches in diameter with screw-universal thread-or instari'taneous couplings. A few Brigades possess steam motor engines, but gas and chemical engines except in the North of England are rarely to be met with . i\lost Brigades are called by an electric call system and are connected to the National Telepbone system

In the matter of Fire Stations, many provincial brigades besides the i\Ietropolitan and other large brigades, bave up-to-date statiol13, but there are yet many towns which in this respect are behind the times owing to the su pinencss of the local authorities.

The water supply in most provincial towns is good a n d constant, and varies from sc Ths. to 105 It)s. pressure

FIG 64

fel ,l oes, greatly to the strength of th e wheel. The dnvmg cham wheels are not bolted in the usual way to the spokes, but are attached to steel arms fastcned to the flange of the road whef'l.

The" Eccles" engine, of which I bave no block has been reputed to be the first motor fire engine ever in

} ollowmg the ?US111eSS meeting the concert comwhen a capItal programme was ably carried out, Mt: Supt. ' y. Adams, of the Commercia l-road Station actll1g a chairman '

A pleasant fea.ture the harmony of the e\'cning was the presentatlOn of pnzes to winners of the past season's by Lady Eleanor Harbord, who was accompal1led by Major Fox.

In response to a vote of thanks to Lady E leanor Harbord-the gallant Major, on her behalf-testified to the great pleasure it gave Lady E. to be present, h.ow pleased be was, as PresIdent, to obse rv e the mterest ,t hat was being taken in the ClLl band Sincerely hoped that it would be even more successfu l in the future.

Mr. Adams acted as pianist during th e evening 111 splendId style , and the 'numerous art istes are to be cong ratulated upon successful efforts to make the concert so well apprecIated

IV.-Volunteer Brigades partly equipped and subsidised by local authorities aTld partly dependent upon voluntary subscriptions, as Aldershot, Ley ton, Oxford (City), Windsor, t\::c

V. - Volunteer Bngades dependll1g ent lr ely, both for appliances and maintenance upon voluntary subscriptions, as Hampton, Slough, &c.

VI.-Private Brigades (volunteer and partly pmd), and NIilitary Brigades organised for the protection of private property, as Windsor Castle, Cavalry and F ir e Brigades or Fire Picquets at Windsor, Cape Hill Brewery, Dunlops, &c

The B ri gades under Classes III., IV., and V ., are by far th e smartest so far as dri ll and satisfactory records for fire quenching are concerned . .'

As a rule no charge is made by brigades for attending fires in their respective towns, and where a charge is made it only consists of out of pocket expenses but for attending a fire outside the borough limits, the usual charges payable by the owner of tbe property on fire or at risk is, fire engine £5 3s. plus lOS. per hour after the first hour one g uin ea for the use or hire of each horse, plus tbe cost of any damage to hose or appliances, refreshments and other out of pocket expenses.

}' I G. 65. this country, but after all it is simp ly a motor car fitted with a hose box and the necessary gear for exting uish in g fires and sho uld be call ed a motor tende r. '

, C,OVENTR \' -:-T b e ,ann ual dinner or th e mem bel'S of the (oventry J lr e Bngade ,vas held 1 )ecem ber 9tl) at the The Mayor p residc;d, man I. Bird occupIed the vicc-chair, whilst Capta in Krm,lshaw and representatives from the Fire Brigades of el1l1w ort h, Leam1l1gton, Tunstall, Ruguy, Co les hill a nd h Nuneaton were present. The c ustomary to as ts were duly onoured.

Ullijorm -The complete full dress or Fue ul1lform of the British Fire Service consists of a well ventilated hel met-usually of metal, a double-breasted tunic, leather belt trousers and fire boots. The helmet is constructed so that it protects tbe eyes and the greater part of th.e from h eat, it has a raised comb (detachable) whIch IS capab le of receiving a seve:e blow injury, at the back of th e helmet is a curta1l1 for throwmg off water. The tuni c is o f blue black clo th, waterproofed, with military co ll a r and long ski rt s, metal scale epa ul ettes protect. the co lla r bones from falling bricks, slates, &c. ; the belt IS of

* A short history of the British Fire Sen'ice, II ith principal points, culled from thc variolls l\ ctS or Parll.amcn.t, relallng to 1, Ire Protection and Fire Preyenl10n rrom the earl!est l1mes; compIled [or the Comll1illee or the International Fire Brigades' Exhibition, Berlin, [or presentation [0 the German Go\'ernment.

Tbe i\Ietropolitan Fire Brigade is under the control of the London County Council. The amount paid for maintenance in 1901 was £213,820 the expenditure on capital account was £69,296; total £283,rr6 j about IS. 4 d per head of population. Parliament makes an annual grant of £10,000, and the Fire Insurance Companies doing business in London £35 for eve:y £. 1,000,000 of insurance on property 111 the I\Ietropohs, and yet they have no yoice in its management. In 1888 tbe amount paid for maintenance was £115,4 25; on capital account £+7,631 ; total £ 163,059; one shilling and two-fifths of a penny per head of populatIOn.

Tbe Fire Brigade Committee of the L.ee. is fairly e ntitl ed to the credit of showing its anxiety to fully equip th e London Fire Brigade in order to meet the ever increasing needs of London, and since the L.ee int o existence it has spent nearly £7 00 ,000 on capital accou nt but whether the inhabitants get the best value for this is frequently a much debated question . The number of calls to fires received in 19 01 was 4, 80 5 of which 859 were false ala rms' the. Brigade attended in addition 1,320 chimney fires 97 hves were lost at fires, as against 6+ in 18 9 2

-F I RST

Th e strength of the Brigade consists of three Officers, I 000 Sub-Officers and Fire Brigade m e n, I7 pilots, 153 c;achmen, seven officials e n gage d in hydrant work, and forty -five m echanics, &c.

Th ere was at th e en d of J 90 1 :-Sixty-fiv e land fire .:;ngine stations: four river stations; I7 street statio ns ; 68 la nd and seven floating steam fire eng in es; 2 I manual E. n gi n es; five steam tugs; 17 4 fire escapes; 13 lo ng ladders ; 55 ladder-vans; 3 I van s o f various kinds; 10 4 hose carts; nine barges; I 9 " eh icl es of various sorts; miles of h ose; 21)0 ho rses; 69-1- fire a la rm call points and 274 telephon e lin es.

Th e fire esca p es, as a rule, are shorter and th e engines smaller th a n is u s ually th e in la rge provin c ial town s Th e water s u pp ly in th e mains is plentiful but th e pressure is low as compared with m any o th er la rge towns .

Th e majority of the Offi cers of th e M.F.B. were Naval Officers and came to their posts without any previous knowledge of fire fi gh tin g; the Sub-Office rs or s up e rintendents poss ess a good ge n e ral know ledge ga in ed in London ; th e m e n are of c;plendid physiqu e and all hand s display that k ee n ess for their callin g-espec ially when any dang e r bas to b e fa ced--b ut, unfor tunat e ly they are led to believe th at th ere is on ly one fire brigade in the wo rld a nd that is in the City of L ondo n, a nd "What isn't known tb e reisn't wortb knowing."

:Moreover, they are n o t allowed o see what other at ions are doing 1 Th e folly of thi s iJe::t, with others equall y unwi se, is fata l towards making the l.F.B. what it o n ce was - and wbat it ought to be best Fire Bri gade in th e world.

International Fire Ex hibition , Court, 1903. Earl 's

AT th e Royal United Service In st ituti on, Whit e hall, on N ove mb e r 24th, the Duke of Cambridge pr es ided a t a m eeti ng convened by the Briti s h Fir e I)revention Committ ee in connection with the Inte rnational Fire Exhibition which is to be h e ld at Earl's Court n ex year from M.ay to October. th ose present wer e M a j o r Fox o f th e .NatlOnal Fi re Brigades' Union), Mr. Edwlll O Sachs (chairman of th e British Fire Prevention Committee), Lie ut. -Colo n e l Seabroke (cha irm a n of th e Fir e Bri gade Union), Li e ut.-C olo n e Dixon, Captam Dy e r, Sir H e rb e rt Perrott (St. John Ambulance Associaticm), Mr. Lion e l Cust (director of th e N a tional Portrait Gallery), Mr. T. Blashill (late architect to the London Countr Council), Mr. P: Cremieu-Javal (chairman of th e exec utiv e of Fir e E x hibition ) , and Mr. W. J. Church BraSier, (c hairman London Privat e Fire Brigade s' A ssoc iation )

Th e Duke of Cambridge, in opening th e proc ee dings, said that, as .sanltary m eas ur es had b ee n very successful, he hoped that, 111 th e same way, th e m eas ur es tak e n against fire would b e eq u a lly to the public. Th ey had had some v e ry severe ll1 s tanc ec; of late whi c h had to th e n ecess ity for an improvement of fire preve nt ion and h e trus ted that the meeting would be th e beg111n111g o f a.n e ra of Improve m e nt in th a t respect.

Mr. Sachs exp la111 e d th e objects o f th e ex hibition. H e remarked that th e ge neral public of to-day had n o t until recently tak e n any ac tive inter es t in fir e prevention. London had been the scene of many disastrou s fire s lately, and

A I D.- December, 19 0 2

the loss of property and life had been enormous. The result was that many proposals w ere made to better the present position of affa irs; and he thought that the crea t ion of the committee of which he was chairman had gone a lon g way to d e monstrate th e value of fire-resisting materials. Th e ex hib ition would popularise the subject, and thus create that inte r es t in fire prevention of which th e public in L o nd o n and the provinces wer e in great n eed. A number of for e ign exhibitors were coming over to the exhibition, a.nd he hoped th e British would learn much from them, an d at the same that th ey would gain a great deal fr o m us

The Nati o nal Fire Brigades' Union had taken an active p a rt in th e organisation, and this, he said, testified to the spirit 0f the fire services in the matter. ' Vith regard to the scope of th e ex hibition, he observed that th e ex hibits would be divided into groups and divisions, and would r ece ive careful a tt e ntion Th e question of fire preventive methods of building, construction and equipment would be accorded eq ual importan ce with th e q u es tion of fir e brigade work and organisation. Th e y were anxious to minimise the loss of l ife and property, and the ex hibition would be held in the int e r ests o f humanity and also in the int e rests of our national w ealt h.

Major Fox, wh o spoke in th e absence o f th e Duke of M a rlbor o u gh (president of the ational Fire Brigades' TJnion), said that th ey all r ecogn ised th e d es irabllit y of a n improvemen t in th e fir e preve ntion system of this country. Th e n ecess ity fo r that improvement was growing evely day as buildings w e r e built hi ghe r. They must l oo k at th e matter fr o m a lif e-sav ing and a prop e rt y saving point of v iew Although th e r e had be e n great improv ements during the las t fe w years, th e r e still r e main ed mu c h to b e done.

Mr Bl ash ill said th a t th e first thin g he h o p ed they would attend to would be th e prohibition of the us e of com bustible materials in places w e r e th ey were lik e ly to the loss of life and property, for incombustible material was not ::IS expe n s iv e as it was believed to be. H e urged that more attention s hould be paid to bringing old buildings into lin e with mod e rn constructions.

Sir H e rb e rt P e rr o tt having spoken of th e imp o rtan ce of th e work of the St. John Ambulance Association in conn ec tion with fires and th e n ecess ity fer training fir e men in th e pri n ci pIes of first aid,

NIr. Cremieu-J aval mov e d a vote of thank s to th e cllairman, which was heartily ag r ee d to; and in r e ply, The Duke of Cam bridge r emark e d that th e subject with which th ey had been d eal ing was one that r equ ir e d Rreat attention and one th at ought to b e d ea lt with speedily.

Th e proceedings then closed.

CAPTAIN WEL LS'S CHRISTMAS TRIP. - The chief officer as t year inform e d the Fire Brigade Committee that he h ope d to take an opportunity of going to America for the purpos e of visiting some of th e fire brigades ther e , but various circumstances pre vente d him doing so. H e has now asked that he may ut ilise th e coming Christmas r ecess for the purpose named, and the Committee report that th ey have given him the necessary leave of absence. The ch ie f officer d esi res to take with him one of the s u perintendents of the brigade, and th e Committee have authorised this The trav e lling and s ubsistence expenses of the superintende nt, which will b e less than .£ 50, are to be borne by he Counci l. The Committee recomme n d that the course tak e n be approved.

Decembe r, I902. -FIRST

Letters to the Editors.

Tre a7 e in 110 way l'esjJOllsible for tIle opilliollS erpreHcd or lIte statemellts lIIade, by CorrespolldeJlts.-EDITORS

THE ROYAL PROGRESS.

D E.\R SlRS,- I see from your FIR ST AID, NO\:ember issue, th a t severa of our worthy chief officers have recel\·ed honours from his Majesty the King.

N ow I should like to know if the prIvates and officers \\'ho did duty in London on Oct. 25th have to recei:'e any honoL1l:s, I think the authorities might do somethmg for uS II1 recognition of our services which I think are quite .\\'o:th)" as a ook at the total number of cases reported ( 1149) SIgnifies

Th ankinu- you for the publication of abo\'c in your excell ent paper,-I yours sincere ly, ONE \\'HO \ V.\S TUERK

BRI STOL CITY MAIU E Al\1BULA CE CORPS.

GENTLE:'fEN, - For the first tim e as a consta1}t reader of FIRST Am I beg to be a llo wed to say a few words II1 ans,:\'er to 1\1r. Tresize. I feel, as a member o f the S.J.A.B. (Cl ty.of Bristol Corps -not an officia ), that if tl?e letter of :'Ilr. Treslze s h ou ld remain un answered those who chd not know the facts a nd might read his letter \\'ou10 that the City Corps of the brigade was of litt le use. He Implies th at we go to the certs simp ly for pleasure. But I should like to say that ov_er 50 cases of fainting were treated at the Colston Cancel ts alone last season And. I believe the publJc are hlgbly pleased at the attendance of members there; indeed the committee of th e above h all has kindly acknowledged the same. In refcrrence to the football matches, the Corps also rendered first aid to some of the finest footballers, are on our books. And our work on these occaSIOns IS carefully \\atchecl by the club doctors (strangers to I enclose a cutting· from Sergt. A lway's re port of one sectIon _alone, sh<?wing the work that IS done !l1 .Bnstol - 366 cases fOl one sectl.o,n is not bad work. Mr. Treslze says that men ( It s not his ambulan ce men ) in Bristol are always 111. the fr ont ro\\', not among the crowel where work IS. o.\\" deat: Editors, if his men are stationed about In the. crO\' d ho\\ can they get to a case, say :w yards away, If he thl11ks.the front row to be a disael\'antage to our \\'ork.. I am wonderIng \\"hat he does with his faints. Keeps them !l1 the cyo\\'d so that they might get a more plentiful supp ly fresh air I suppose. If [r. Tresize has not been through hiS 3rd yet It would be a good CJuestion for the E'xaminer to as.k hIm. I 111r':y' that our Co rp s does not refuse any llwltatlOns as l\I I. teSl ze says h e does if we we can do we.ll can I remember the pride that Dr. J. S Gnffith (O Ul Asslstan.tDeputy. and late 111 instructll1g ]\[r. Treslze and hiS men, a of th em owing to his able lectures gamed their and th en when they became holders of those they severed th eir connection from us. Mr.. Treslze mllst e:-..cuse me defendino· the ran k and file of our bngade.110\\ that he has brought us it. 1 may tell him 111 conclud1l1g that there only two of t.he St. John-first, the second, the Bng acle; whIch ever h e like to be long to he will have to abIde by theIr rules regal dle.ss the reel tape whi ch he is so fond of spea k!l1 g about (w hi ch IS not made in Bristol ). B ut ?'IlL Tresize does n ot belong to eIther of these bran ch es, and this is probably the for not recoo nisin<r him. 1li s men wear a private UJ1lform WIth the B adge attached and do bngade woyk, and untIl h e alters thi s and conforms to rules and _regulatIons WIll be of li tt le use. have adopted a 170m de pllflJl£' as I am .awarc It _ IS contrary to rule s to di sc u ss matters of dlsclpl!l1e. 1t1 th e pl ess'o.bu t neverthel ess I have the courage of my CO r.Vl ctlons althou"h I bow to the discipline o f my s up e ri or officers.- Yours truly, JAW R ND GE.

Sr:RGT. ALWAY'S REPORT:- )

Sergi. Alway, of the senio r section of the l3 ri stol Co r ps of the •\. h., in his re orl o n the yea r's " o rk, sta tes that the membcls of the lfa vc rendered aid in 366 case Among them :\ere [.actur es 1'0 severe WOlllllls, seven burns-th ree [10m 140 cases o[ fainting. In se \'em ll1stances

AI D.- 95

medical men have praised the work of the section, notably in one case where a patient had been impa led on a railing, and wher e a shoulder had been dislocated, and \\ here three men \\'ere burnt hy an explosion The hon secretary ('\ Ir. \\ 11. Reed) has received his repo rt with the greatest atisfaction, and s the gratified other sections are doing equally good work as opportunity anses.

DEAR SlRS,-I ha,-e been -ery much interested in some of the letters which hm'e been written criticising the brigade. One thing strikes me in particular, and this is that the regulations criticised are nearly all obsolete; in fact, since 1890 the brigade has undergone a complete change. \V e have had since then two separate schedules of rules and regulations, the l:tt est was issued at the commencement of the present year. ?\ O\\', si r YOll would scarcely consider it fair for me to criticise your paper after I had read, say, a number of the 1890 issue; at any rate you would not consider that criticism worth very much.

FIRST AID is n ow uncler entirely diffe:ent management, and we might almost say the same of the brIgade, so for goodness sake, f people must criticise, let them our present system and not an obsolete The first rule pIcked out is one in re o·ard to transport dutIes have care fully read the 1902 can find.nothing at all limiting this duty to a fixed radIUS; there IS no such rule 111 eXIstence at the present time. Perhaps it would be as well for s?me of youI' correspondents to obtain a copy of the new regulatIons before they make any further comments.

The method of appointing officers next The re cr ulations in recrard to this is, that before theIr appol11tment must pass exar!lination. in stretcher drill, parts 2 and 3; and also ll1 first ald. Is tl?IS not nece ssary. To ha\'e efficient men you must have effiCient officers, therefore this rule; and the particular" form" comp lained \\·hich simply a form s tating that .the .whose appol11tment IS applied for, has passed thIS Is thIs. red tape ? I s it useless interference? I s It not one o f the cardl11al duties of headquarters to see that the officers appointed are efficient? Does not this answer the question: , \\'h o was best Judge as to the capabilities of the Under our present regulations the" officials)) both see and know the officers whol11 they Some of the remarks 111 Col. Bowdler's report .are then taken exception to. No doubt are the ren:arks 111 to efficiency, but what would the bngade be \nthout that; .r notice that one of YOLlr correspondents contends hIS di\·ision is efficient because they have attended 80 cases 111 one year, but is this so? In all probability those cases were attended by on ly a small ml110nty of the members But s.uppose that they were even y among th e members, whIch, say, numbered twenty, it only gives each; scarcely sufficient practice by it se lf to make an effiCIent ambulance man: Is it too much to ask a man to attend 12 practIces and to be present at an annual inspection, and one practice each surely one would thll1k the that could be expected; and yet we are told that because thIS is insisted on, that it is useless red tape on the part of the autho riti es . I contencl,.slr, that If It IS to? much trouble for a man to put in practIces a year the brIgade, and the p ubli c, t oo, are better sLlch amb ul.ance. men II: co nclusion, allow me to P01l1t out .111 force In ambu a n ce department of the N.F .B.U., Wl,llch !S the tificate obtained vouches for the hol?er. s profiCiency fOt a period of only two years subsequent to ltS Issue, at of that time they h ave to go throu g h an<?ther course of msttLlctlon a nd ha,-e the certifica t e renewed, or It valueless. A similar regulation mig ht be adop ted \\"lth. by the S J.A.A. in regard to those persons who gamed ce l tlfi cates but did not join the brigacle.-Yours trul y ') Ashby-de- a-Zouch. CHAS. E. B.-\'XTER.

DEAR SlRs,-Being my se lf a first. aider and an Id · - of FII' T AlD I quite aOTee WIth the Vle\\'s expressed o l eac e r '" b E' d by "L.A. C " in your re "i\Iotor fIre _n g m e.s al: Ambulance Cars," espeCIally as regards th e latte!. I I would rather wait an hour a nd be removed on the I· ['tter th an be shaken up on a motor ambulance , pattern po Ice I , 1 Itt"observe ho,\· some motors shake e ven whl e t ley 2.re s a lanaI). - Yours truly, S. S., i\Ietropoh tan PolIce.

Fire Life=Saving

THTS belt is entirely woven and composed of an extremely strong material, though light in weig 1t The two sides, 1\. and B, as shown in the sketch, are passed round the body under the armpits, the two rings which are b'ianguia1' in shape, are locked by a powerful swivel-hook to which is fixed the lowering rope This swivel is of a special construction, the surface perfectly even and smooth and is selflocking- therefore, cannot open itself accidentally. The " cherniere" at the upper end has a special guard for the protection of the rescuer's hand-as the sp ring ;s so powerful that the palm might otherwise be siezed by the jaws of the opened swivel and severely cut -and the hook is hard enamelled

When the body is encircled, 0, the tai l end of the belt is pulled to the required size so as to securely fasten the body at D To this tail end, at the ring C, which is oval, is fastened the guy rope, which either may be attached to the ring direct or fastened by a special spring clip-for convenience's sake. D The person is now ready to be lowered

The great feature of this belt is its great strength, extreme simplicity and "sans contredit" a time-saving apparatus, which is one of the greatest factors in life-saving work-if not the greatest. It is impossible that mistakes can be made with this apparatus, even C by non-experienced hands, and such a lamentable loss as the one Aldershot sustained some little time back, would not have to be deplored had such a belt been in use Another great point in favour of this belt is that it can be adjusted in an instant to any sized individualfrom a very stout person to an infant. This cannot be with the chair knot, as it takes time and an experienced man to make one. The low price of this belt would also appeal to everyhody, as it only costs 8s

Epitome of FIRST AID & NURSINC, with questions

By

DR. I-IINSLEY WALKER Price 1 5

Tbe Gut enberg Temperatur e, Pul se an d Res l}i ratioD Chart. Price 1d.

JAMES F. WILKINSON, PRl TTlm, GUTEl\"BERG WORKS, PENDLETON, MANCHESTER

ESTABLISHED 1844

GEORGE MONK, 18 & 19 , B E RKLEY STREET, C LER KENWELL , E. G

Lock Manufacturer, Bell Hanger, G ASFITTER & COOKING APPARATUS MAKER.

Patentee oj Asylum .::re. Estimates Given

NESTLE'S SWI M1LK

THE RICHEST IN CREAM. The Best for all Services.

NURSES' UNIFORMS, CAPS, COWNS, BONNETS, &c.

AS SUPPLIED TO

The Principal Ho s pital s and Nursin g In s titutions

STREET , LONDON, E C.

(to whom Notice of Claims, under the following conditions must be sent within seven days of accident to the above address.)

600093 £100

will be paid abO\'e Corporation to the legal representative 0, anY.one IS kIlled by an aCCident to the Passenger Train (within the l! mted or Channel Islands), in which the deceased was a tIcket beanng or paying passenger, or who shall have been falally thereby (should death reslllt within ninety days after such aCCident).

PROVIDED that the person so killed or injured had upon his or her person had at home this ticket, with his, or her, usual wntten. pnor t.he accident, on the space provided below, which, the glVlng of notice within the time as hereinbefore mentlOned, IS the essence of this contract.

This good for current issue only, and carries the benefits of and IS subject to, the conditions of the "OCEAN ACCIDENT AND GUARANTEE COMPANY Limited Act 1890," Risks Nos 2 and 3. "

The Corporation admit that the purchase of this Paper is the payment of a premium under Section 34 of the Act. No person can recover under more than one Coupon ticket in respect of the same risk.