NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13305, 11 October 1906, Page 4

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

ALCOHOL FOR PATIENTS. In connection with the statement made at the meeting of the British Medical Association at Toronto, by Sir Victor Horslcy, as to the decreasing us© of aicohoi by the medical profession, in England, inquiries show that in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, at all events, a very marked change lias come over opinion in regard to its administration as a medicine and stimulant. As the following figures indicate, the reduction for medical or surgical purposes at this infirmary is very marked.' The value of the average quantity consumed per patient during the year has fallen from 13s 6id 20 years ago, to 3s last year, and that in spite of the large increase in the numbers daily under treatment in the infirmary during that period. In 1884-5, the average number of patients under treatment was 595. The cost of alcoholic liquors used- as " medical comforts" was £403 3s lid, for the.year, an average per patient of 13s 6£d. Ten years later, in 1894-5, there were 711 patients supplied with liquor, costing £5300 3s 2d, an average of 8s 5Jd per patient. Last year, 1904-5, though the patients under treatment gave the much higher average of 828, the cost of alcohol was only £139 16s 3d, or an average of 3s 4id. ; The alcohol includes port wine, sherry, champagne, whisky, gin, brandy, rum, porter, ale, and claret, all of which are embraced under the head of "medical comforts." In 1884-5, the chief alcohol stimulants consumed were brandy, £234; port wine, £66; whisky, £36; and champagne, £22. Ten years later there was a curious change in the respective proportions. Brandy fell to £125, port wine to £41, champagne to £13, while whisky rose to £89. an increase of over £50. For 1904-5, the corresponding figures were in all instances largely reduced. Brandy cost £39, port wine £18, champagne £9, and whjsky £56. The \ quantity of milk now consumed in the infirmary has largely increased during the 20 years, the. expenditure under this head being £3313, as against £2399 in 1885. A. larger use is also made of extract of meat and malt preparations. Twenty years ago the infirmary spent only £38 on its supply of meat extract. In 10 years the amount had risen to £327, but last year showed another distinct change, > only £67 being spent in ; beef essences and malt pre*' parations. _■ '■ >.••'■.

RECONSTRUCTION OF SAN .'* « FRANCISCO. ' r A careful investigation has shown that the reconstruction of San Francisco will involve an expenditure of about £80,000,000, of which skilled and unskilled labour will reap - a reward of £38,000,000. These figures are based upon the cost of building material and the rate of wages current there. The general average of wages for men of all crafts, as well as the unskilled workmen, is at least 30 per cent; higher than the rates prevailing' elsewhere in the United States. , The share of labour in the cost of reconstruction is apportioned as follows:—Bricklayers, £9,200,000 ; carpenters, £7,000,000 ; 'hodcarriers, mortar-men, and incidental labour, "' £3,000,000;- clearing debris, £3,000,000; plumbery, £2,100,000; plasterers, £960,000 ;■ labourers (general), £2,400,000; teamsters, £2,000,000; cement workers. £1,000,000; cement finishers, £1,000,000; electricians, £800,000; ironworkers, £400,000; painters, £800,000; lathers, £200,000; tinsmiths, £200,000; foremen and superintendents, £3,000,000; other trades and crafts, £3,940,000. Total, £38,000,000.