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MISCELLANY.
Death of Dr. Bumstead.—Freeman J. Bumstead, M.D., LL.D., the well-known writer on syphilis and venereal diseases, died on November 28, at his residence in New York City, at the age of fifty-three. He had been in poor health for some time, and a severe carriage accident several months ago hastened his death. He was professor of venereal diseases in the College of Physicians and Surgeons from 1868 to 1871, when he resigned to spend two years in foreign travel and study. The first edition of his "Pathology and Treatment of Venereal Diseases" was published in 1861; the fourth edition, largely re-written in conjunction with Dr. R. W. Taylor, appeared only just before his death, some of the proof-sheets being revised during his last illness. Dr. Bumstead bequeathed his valuable special library to the New York Academy of Medicine.
Erasmus Wilson, F.R.S.—Mr. Wilson has with princely munificence offered improvements to the Margate Sea-Bathing Infirmary to the value of over one hundred thousand dollars; a tepid swimming-bath is included in the plan. We cannot but regret that he did not found and endow a hospital for skin diseases in London, where consecutive study could be followed, as in Paris and Vienna. A proper nucleus would have been formed which might develop into a rival of the famous Saint Louis.
Professor Hebra.—It is announced that this distinguished dermatologist has been made Hofrath, in recognition of the great services he has rendered to science.
Dermatology in Boston.—Our esteemed collaborator, Dr. Wigglesworth, has now charge of the Out-Patient Department for Diseases of the Skin at the Boston City Hospital, in place of Dr. Damon, who held the position a number of years. In the report of the hospital for the year from May 1, 1878, to May 1, 1879, there are eight hundred and ninety-six cases of skin disease recorded, of which there were only seventy-three cases of the syphilodermata, or a trifle over eight per cent.; this is the smallest proportion with which we are acquainted in any dermatological statistics.
Lectures on Dermatology at the New York Hospital.—Dr. Bulkley is engaged in giving a third course of lectures to practitioners on Wednesday afternoons at half-past two o'clock. The same plan is followed as in previous courses, of devoting the first half-hour or more to the demonstration of cases, with brief clinical remarks, while the second half of the lecture is given to systematic teaching by means of charts, models, colored plates, photographs, etc. The course, which lasts six months, is, if possible, better attended than last year, all the seats being usually occupied.
