36 



the laws of health, for it is quite certain that the 

 disease may occur under the most varied condi- 

 tions, and not infrequently (in the W^st Indies 

 and India) to those who are well cared for in every 

 respect. Thus were we driven to the conclusion 

 that the influence at work must be sometliing 

 quite special and peculiar. Without doubt the 

 advance of civilisation has been coiucident with 

 the decline of leprosy, but it has not been so in any 

 vaf^ue or uncertain mmner, but simply by substi- 

 tuting other kinds of foid for salt tish. It may 

 be asked whether other kinds of badly- kept food 

 — meat, for instance — may not have had a 

 share. No, the bacillus is probably con- 

 veyed by fish and fish alone. The Kaffirs were 

 very prone to eat bad meat, and tliey would 

 indeed eat anything, howHvnr rotten, but thny 

 never got leprosy till we supplied them with l>adly- 

 cured fish. We shall be told thattheri- are places 

 where leprosy occurs and where salt fish is not 

 eaten, and others wher^ it is lar^jely eaten and yet 

 there is no leprosy. Kespectin*^ all these state- 

 ments, careful details are wanted. There is not 

 the least reason to believe that well-cured fish is 

 dansrerous". Such fish as is now used in Euj^land 

 involves no risk whatever. Respecting the asser- 

 tion that the disease occurs to those who never 

 eat fish, it has been proved in many instances to 

 have been made in error. The disease is one of 

 very prolonged incubation, that is the bacillus may 

 have been received into the system ten or even 

 twenty years before it shows its effects. This opens 

 the door to many mistakes. It is quite true that the 

 Kaffirs of Natal do not eat fish, but then they are 

 great wanderers, and they go into places where 

 salt fish is eaten, and then come home and years 

 later develop leprosy. The lecture concluded 

 with a few remarks as to the measures necessary 

 for the prevention of leprosy. The lecturer briefly 

 referred to the misery caused by anything 

 approaching to compulsory segregation, and said 

 that unless really necessary for the protection of 

 the community all legislation in that direction 

 was a cruel injustice. On Kobben Island at the 

 present time there are many fathers and mothers 

 of families who would be very useful at home and 

 quite capable of attending to their domestic 

 duties. There are Boer farmers in good health, 

 excepting some slight symptoms of leprosy, who 

 might be useful men in their home pursuits, did 

 not the laws of their country condemn them to 

 ife-long imprisonment in a leper asylum. The 

 upholders of contagion doctrines incurred, he 

 could not but think, a heavy responsibility if 

 these conditions were after all not necessary. It 

 it is the fact that nineteen-twentieths of leprosy 

 is of foodorigin and begins in the individual tic novo 

 from fish-food, and that respecting the twentieth, 

 communication might have been prevented by the 

 most ordinary precautions as to taking food 

 with others, then these isolation institutions 

 are of exceedingly little use. What ought 

 to be done is to subject the fish curing 

 establishments to supervision, and to prevent the 

 sale of anything that is not well cured. Side by 

 side with this should go the difTusioa of 

 information as to the danger of eating fi\)m &. 

 leper's hands. This last is, however, an almoet 



insiifnificint one, for the experience of the Middle 

 Ages has conclusively shown that the disease 

 cannot maintain itself by commensal communica- 

 tion, and that it dies out when the dietetic habits 

 of the C'>mmunity are changed. We must beware 

 of pushing the doctrines of contagion too far. 

 The discovery of the b icillus was a brilliant 

 achievement, it sh>^d a ray of light from true 

 science upon a difficult subject, it was indeed 

 * li'^'ht from I leaven," anrl yet unless we are 

 carnful in it^ use it m^y '* Itad us astray." 



The Mayor uf Canterbury (Alderman CoUard) 

 said he felt it a great privilege tt be asked to 

 propose a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Hutchinson 

 for his address. It hacl been instructive from 

 the bt'ginning t > theeml. and as Mayor of Canter- 

 bury he w.is glad to have the opportunity of 

 exteFiding to him and the S')cieties represented a 

 vory hearty welcome to the city. He would have 

 done so b-^fore, but circumstances prevented him. 

 He felt sure that the Sanitary Hoard and city 

 generally looked upon such Societies as of great 

 benefit, because a t^ood deal coull be learnt- He 

 trusted that the visit to Canterbury had been a 

 pleasant one, and that they would take away such 

 pleasant recollection* that at no distant date Can- 

 terbury friends might see them again. 



Mr. Sidney Harvey seconded, and the vote was 

 unanimously passed. 



The President, acknowledging the compliment, 

 remarked that the subject was one which inter- 

 ested him, and he much enjoyed giving the lecture. 

 He was sorry that he had been unable to do 

 more for the success ot the Congress, but he was 

 glad to hear that it had been so well assuted. Ou 

 behalf of the Societies represented, he wished to 

 express his gratification to the Mayor of Canter- 

 bury for his great kindness in entertaining them, 

 and said he felt sure the reception was very much 

 enjoyed (applause). 



Three hearty cheers were then given for the 

 Mayor, who had to leave on account of other 

 engagements. 



ELECTION Oh' OFFICERS. 



The Kev. T. R. R. Stebbing, M.A., mentioned 

 that he bad a proposition to make concerning the 

 President who would take the chair at their next 

 Congress. He had great pleasure in suggesting 

 the name of Sir Henry Howarth, K.C.I.E.. F.R.S., 

 F.G.S., who had written a letter saying he would 

 be most pleased to accept the position of Pre- 

 sident. 



Mr. Whitaker seconded the proposal, and the 

 motion was unanimously carried. 



Mr. Mann moved the r»-election of the vice 

 presidents, honorary treasurer and secretaries, and 

 spoke highly of the services rendered by Dr. 

 Abbott and Mr. Lander. 



Captain McDakin (Dover) seconded, and it was 

 carried. 



VOTBS OIP THANCS. 



Dr. Abbott proposed a vote of thanks to the 

 retiring president and oncers, which was seconded 

 and carried with aicclasiation. 



Professor Boulger, in moving a vote of thanks 

 to the Mayor of Canterbury ( Alderoi&nG.Collard), 

 the Governors and head masters of the Langton 

 Sohools, &nd to the Preeident, secret&ry and mem- 



