550 THE EIGHTH ENGLISH CENSUS.

those enlisted under previous Acts, and by he transfer to

the reserve of those enlisted under the Act of 1872, aftercompleting their six years of service wit i th colours.From a return appended to the epcrt we find that the

mortality of the army at home a a during the year1880 amounted to 17’59 per 1000 mean stlength. This is

considerably higher than the n rtality in 1878, the year in-cluded in the last published volume of the Army MedicalDepartment, but approximates closely to the average of theten preceding years. The proportion discharged by invalidingduring the year was 21’88 per 1000, being 6 per 1000 lowerthan in 1878, but almost identical with the average ofthe tenyears. There is every reason to anticipate a reduction in theinvaliding in each succeeding year by the operation of thetransfer of men to the Reserve at a much earlier period thanthat at which they were formerly released from the service.

ALL the preliminary steps for the Census enumeration of1881 ought now to be complete. Before this issue comes

under the eyes of our readers the Householders’ Schedules

should have been duly delivered by the large army ofenumerators, and be already in the hands of the heads

of families. The few simple particulars required by theCensus Act, which are precisely the same as those asked forin 1871, should be entered in the schedule for each individual

sleeping or abiding within any abode during to-morrow(Sunday) night, in order that the schedules may be readyfor delivery to the enumerator, who will call for the samein the course of Monday next. Before nightfall on Mondaynext the first important stage of the Census of 1881 will havebeen completed, and, national curiosity having been excited,the results of the numbering will be awaited with a certainamount of expectancy, if not impatience. The Registrar-General’s instructions to the various officers concerned in

taking the Census contain what is called a Census Calendar,from which we may form some idea of the machinery bywhich the individual householder’s schedule will be made

to yield the final results of the national enumeration. On

Monday night next about six millions of individual house-holders’ schedules will have been collected by about 35,000enumerators throughout England and Wales. These enu- ’,merators are allowed a week for copying the contents ofthese individual schedules into enumeration books, and onor before the llth of April these books, together with theoriginal schedules, should be delivered to the registrars bywhom the enumerators have been appointed, and who areresponsible for the efficient enumeration of their subdistrict.Before the expiration of another fortnight, that is, on orbefore April 25th, registrars should have forwarded all theoriginal schedules to the Census Office in Craig’s-court, andthe enumeration books, together with all other census docu-ments, to their superintendent registrar. These officers are

in their turn allowed a week for revising the enumerationbooks, and the summaries of the same, and are instructedthat on or before the 30th of the month part of the revisedenumeration books should be forwarded to the Census Office,and that the remainder is to follow in rapid succession. Thusif the Registrar-General’s programme be strictly carried outthe staff of clerks in the central office at Craig’s-court willbe busily engaged before the end of the present month

finally revising the enumeration books, which will previously

have passed through the hands of the enumerator, the regis.trar, and the superintendent registrar. Between the end of

April and the middle of June will be prepared the Pre.liminary Census Report for presentation to Parliament.

This report, in addition to the now population of Englandand Wales, and of its counties, and registration divisionsand subdivisions, will probably show the number of persons(distinguishing the sexes) enumerated in each borough, localgovernment district, and other urban sanitary district. Inthis preliminary report no attempt will be made to show theages, civil condition, or occupation of the people. This and

other information will find place in the final Census Report,and will be published from time to time during the twoyears which will elapse before the information to be de.

rived from the householders’ schedules, now in the handsof heads of families, will be completed, and be fullyavailable for the use of the public.

Annotations." Ne quid nimis."

THE ILLNESS OF LORD BEACONSFIELD.

A SINCERE feeling of concern for the state of the Earl ofBeaconsfield pervades the community without reference torank or politics. This has been rendered conspicuously ap-parent by the inquiries made at Curzon-street, personallyby the Prime Minister, and the leading members of theLiberal party, as well as those of his lordship’s own fol.lowing. It is, of course, with the medical aspects ofthe illness that we are more particularly interested. Acurious announcement has appeared in the daily papers tothe effect that Lord Beaconsfield has not been treated" homoeopathically," but " according to the regular practiceof allopathy." The medical profession does not recognise any"pathy" ! There is a system of medicine-based on theknowledge of Nature’s order in health, the manifestationsof disease, and the ascertained effects of remedies andmethods of treatment-which is accepted and practised bythe common consent of the profession. Without at themoment entering upon the ethical question raised by the con-sultations in this case, it maybe stated that hypotheses of cureby similars and cure by contraries have no place in scientificmedicine; and we hold that no member of the medical profes.sion is justified in committing himself to a school whichaffects to adopt either of these principles as the basis of asystematic treatment of disease. Still less can any memberof the profession be at liberty to adopt either of the twosystems indifferently or at the pleasure or whim of his

patients. What would be thought of a lawyer who adopteda private interpretation of the statute book, or of one whooffered his clients a choice of two methods ? Nature is notless inexorable in her demand for the intelligent submissionof her disciples to the known laws of health and diseasethan are the Courts of Judicature. No law of Natureis of private interpretation. It must therefore beevident that the notification that Lord Beaconsfieldhas not been treated 11 homceopathically," but accord-ing to the regular practice of allopathy," has no pro-fessional significance. The reports of Lord Beaconsfield’sillness which have reached us seem to indicate a state notvery difficult to recognise. He is probably suffering froman affection which the late Sir Henry Holland was amongthe first to describe-namely, that form of inflammatorycongestion of the bronchial apparatus which occurs in con-nexion with the gouty diathesis, more particularly whenthe constitutional malady is not, as it were, focused

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and restrained by localisation in the usual form. The nobleEarl suffers from a lack of nerve power-as distinguishedfrom cerebral energy-which is by no means uncommon inmen of Lord Beaconsfield’s type. The intensity of his

lordship’s vital force has for many years been remarkable,but it has been mainly due to mental energy, called forth inresponse to mental stimuli. With an organism so energeticand thus vitalised, there must needs be a perpetual liabilityto the suppression or metastasis of diseases which require asomewhat high grade of local disturbance to reach their

normal type; meanwhile there is necessarily much irritabilityand weakness. The difficulties attending the managementof such a case are obviously great, and its vicissitudes

many and various. We can only express an earnest hopethat these difficulties may be surmounted, and that the Earlof Beaconsfield may be spared to resume the prominentposition in the Legislature from which he has been soinopportunely displaced.

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A CRITIC’S MORALITY ()

A QUARTERLY publication called The Modern Review, inits issue dated April 1st, contains nine articles, all of whichare duly authenticated and signed, save one. The uniqueexception is entitled "The Medical Profession and its

Morality." It is not quite clear why the writer of this lucu-bration should have kept back his name, nor does the maudlinand impertinent apology of the editor furnish anyexplana-tion why his " esteemed contributor " should " prefer towithhold his signature." A writer so dead to even theforms of truth, honesty, and decency can surely haveno occasion to respect either his person or his name.It would seem rather to have been mean, craven

cowardice that prompted the discretion. Otherwise it isalmost incredible that anyone should have deliberatelypublished anonymously such odious and wanton charges ina magazine having all its other articles signed and acknow-ledged. Here are some " elegant extracts " from this re-viewer’s pages :-" Apparently there are cases where cure isnot an object! Plumbers are popularly believed never

to mend one hole in the leads of a house without

making another. The gentlemen whom we call in totinker our internal pipes and gutters, it is to befeared sometimes adopt similar tactics." "As a profession[the italics are not ours] the guilt and shame of the atrociousContagious Diseases Acts lie at the door of the medicalmen of England, and it is their gross materialism, theirutter disregard for human souls when lodged in the bodiesof the despised and wretched which has made such legislationpossible." "The profession has proved doubly treacherousto women." It i8 neither necessary nor dignified to heedsuch false, foolish, and hysterical charges. The gratitude,respect, and esteem of an intelligent and virtuous com-

munity afford a complete and final answer. The professionalgood conscience can therefore well afford to disregard theskulking diatribes of a " Modern Reviewer."

NON-COMBATANTS.

THE official despatches from the Transvaal, published inthe Gazette of the 22nd ult., bear out fully the opinionwe have repeatedly expressed of the injustice of classingmedical officers with non-combatants in the distribution ofrewards and honours. The late Colonel Anstruther, in hisreport of the action at Bronker’s Spruit on the 20th December, says :-" It was exceedingly fortunate that Providencespared our only medical officer and his assistant-surgeon.Ward’s work can hardly be described. It was endless for

forty-eight hours ; until assistance arrived he had not amoment to himself." We may add that Surgeon Ward’sname appears in the list of the wounded. Sir George Colle

also in his account of the fight at Ingogo, reported :Surgeon M’Gann well maintained the distinguished re-putation of the medical department for self-sacrificingexposure in attendance on the wounded until the arrivalof the ambulances with Surgeons Ring and Landon;he was the only medical officer with the force, andlaboured indefatigably with the wounded." The Tintes’ cor-

respondent, in his account of the action, says : " Where allwere calmly courageous it seems invidious to make mentionof any; but Dr. M’Gann, Army Medical Department, be-haved splendidly. He never spared himself for an instant;whenever the cry was heard, ’Pass the word for the doctor,’he quickly made his way to the wounded men, making him-self, for the nonce, the most prominent target for the Boermarksmen," Such are the men, such their deeds, and suchthe dangers to which they are exposed in the discharge oftheir important duties, whom the authorities at the HorseGuards persist in classing with non-combatants when re-wards and honours are being conferred. We do not findthat they so regard them when their services are required.Surely it is time that the War Minister should interfere toput an end to so glaring an injustice. We sincerely trustthat Mr. Childera will take up the question, as we havelittle doubt if he does so his sense of what is right will leadhim to make such arrangements as will put an end to sounjustifiable an anomaly.

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THE PATHOLOGY OF CARBUNCLE.

ALL authorities have been for a long time agreed that thecentral fact in the pathology of carbuncle is death of acertain portion of tissue, but there has been, and is now,considerable difference of opinion as to whether it is deathof a portion of the true skin, or of the cellular tissue, or of

both, or of a gland. The clinical features of the affection,although well marked, are hardly sufficient to settle the

point, and thus equally good surgeons have held thesediverse views. Dr. J. Collins Warren, of the Harvard

University, has devoted considerable attention to this sub-ject, and has come to the conclusion that the pathology ofcarbuncle is closely connected with certain structures in theskin hitherto undescribed, which he has named the columnæadiposæ. It is stated that in thick skin bearing only finedowny "lanugo" hairs, there are nearly vertical clefts andslender columnar spaces reaching from the bottom of thehair-follicles through the deeper parts of the corium into thesubjacent panniculus adiposus. These spaces are filled with

fat, bloodvessels, lymphatics, and usually also a coiled-upsweat-gland; and it is to these that the term columnæ

adiposae is applied. At about their middle, lateral horizontalbranches are given off, which form a series of inter-

communicating channels in the corium, which can be in-jected from the subcutaneous fatty layer. Close by thedeeper end of each column a broad bundle of fibrous tissue

passes from the corium through the fatty layer to the deeperfascia. The neighbouring bundles interlace in various direc-tions ; they connect the skin and deep fascia more or lessfirmly together. These columns are only found in connexionwith hair-follicles, and in thick skin with downy hairs; inother conditions the follicles reach quite through the corium.The vessels, which all reach the cutis vera by piercing itsdeeper surface, are only found taking this course along thesefat columns, and giving off lateral branches along its off-shoots. In sections made through the margin of a carbuncle,Dr. Warren finds that the first change is an infiltration ofthe subcutaneous fatty tissue with wandering cells which

creep up the columnae adiposæ and along their lateralbranches and secondary offahoots, and so ultimately infiltratethe whole thickness of the true skin, except a thin super-ficial layer, which being free from these channels does not

. afford the spaces along which the cells can wander. This

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is accompanied with swelling and elongation of the columns,and the destruction of their normal contents, and they noware visible to the naked eye as small prominent pustules,often with a fine downy hair attached.But another origin has also been found for the small super-

ficial pustules. The papillae become infiltrated and oede-matous, much swollen, and often balloon-shaped, with thenarrowed end deep ; they then project above the surface,their contents break down into pus, and quickly escape.Adjacent papillæ may unite, and so form rather largerpustules ; and, on the other hand, the process may stopshort of suppuration, and the inflamed tissue retrograde.Meanwhile the subcutaneous infiltration continues, extends,and intensifies, but cuts off the blood-supply without meltingdown the deep bundles of fibres passing through it, whichtherefore form the tough adherent sloughs at the bottom ofcarbuncles. The true nature of carbuncle may therefore besaid to be purulent infiltration of the subcutaneous tissue,with secondary injection of certain normal cavities in thetrue skin, and inflammatory products, which compress thenutrient vessels and lead to suppuration and sloughing.The common situation of carbuncle and its altered characterwhen attacking skin where the corium is very thin or thehairs long and stiff, show that the explanation of its pecu-liarities must be looked for in some anatomical arrange-ment. The marked relief obtained by incisions is fullyexplained by this pathology. Dr. Warren states that not

only purulent infiltrations but new growths, such as sarcomaand nsevus, spread up to the surface along these columnæadiposas, and that this condition may then be readily reco-gnised by the naked eye. ____

THE CHAIR OF PATHOLOGY IN EDINBURGH.

OUR Edinburgh correspondent writes :-For the Chair ofPathology in the University, which will be filled up in thecourse of April, the following candidates have come forward:Dr. Byrom Bramwell, late of Newcastle-on-Tyne, now Lec-turer on Medicine in the Extra-Academical School here ;

. Dr. Greenfield of St. Thomas’s Hospital, Superintendent ofthe Brown Institute; Dr. Hamilton, at present Pathologistto the Royal Infirmary, who, as assistant to the late ProfessorSanders, conducted the course of lectures during his illness,and who has conducted the class of Practical Pathology forthe last few years; Dr. Rabagliati of Bradford; and Dr. Roy,formerly assistant in the University of Strasburg, &c. It isrumoured that the curators will select either Dr. Hamiltonor Dr. Greenfield.

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FIRE AND PANIC IN THE THEATRE.

THE tragedy at Nice will recall public attention to thestate of our own theatres for the moment, and then the ever-present danger will be forgotten again until some hideousholocaust, perhaps involving the loss of hundreds of lives,once more revives a problem which, being unable to solve,the authorities and the public seem equally anxious to shelve.The facts are simply these : there are not half a dozen theatresin the metropolis, and probably not more than a score inthe country, from which escape in an emergency would bepracticably possible. This statement is so opposed to theinterests of lessees, so humiliating to those who have

planned and superintended these constructions, and so dis-creditable to the licensing authorities, that it is quite sureto be contradicted or ridiculed. Nevertheless, it is simplyand grimly accurate. There was something grotesque inthe recent order to provide extra doors for use " in caseof fire." Are those who legislate for the securityof life under conditions of panic so ignorant of thenature of panic as not to know that its first effect isto obliterate all traces of transitory and recent impressions andto place the whole being at the mercy of impulse and habit ?

If a particular doorway is to be used as a means of exit inan emergency, it must be employed as a way of entry andexit on ordinary occasions. If it did not generally happenthat the " extra " doors of theatres are locked when theyought to be open, it would still be absurd to rely on such ex-ceptional means of escape. It would be altogether impossi.ble that a fairly full audience could be got out of a Londontheatre without f earf al casualties if panic prevailed. Someof the most frequented and fashionable theatres are theworst. Nevertheless, this state of things is tolerated, and aSelect Committee has gone through the farce of exaniin.

ing a multitude of interested witnesses and framing a reportfull of the feeblest and most inadequate suggestions, while aLord Chamberlain has issued a few puerile directions for theadoption of measures of no possible effect. It is useless todwell on the matter. The community of playgoers elect totake their chance, and their entertainers and official pro-tectors are content that they should do so. Who, then, hasany right to complain ? ___

PSEUDO-MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS.

THE reference made in the course of the trial so generallydescribed as the suit Lawson v. Labouchere, to the protestentered by THE LANCET against pseudo-medical advertise-ments of an indecent class appearing in lay newspapers,recalls the following sentences which we penned in1864-5 : "The sin of this quackery shall not lie at

the door of the medical portion of the press. Let us

hope that the press generally will come to a similar reso-lution, and show the strength of it by foregoing the profitswhich accrue from advertisements, ... which, indeed,are fast rendering ordinary papers unfit for introduction intofamilies." Again : ‘ ‘ No doubt to many a struggling journalthe sums so received constitute an inducement which pleadsvery urgently for the continuance of a practice which is solargely lucrative. But if the attention of the general publicbe sufficiently awakened to the vile nature of this trafficthis inducement will cease, for the loss of circulation andthe loss of character incurred by journals which shall con-tinue to defile their columns by the announcements willmore than counterbalance the direct profits of the paid in-sertions. There is no reason that we can see why it shouldbe considered much less disgraceful to print this sort ofobscenity, than it would be to introduce it into written cor-respondence or ordinary conversation. The journalists whopermit their columns to be so abused are undoubtedly theaccomplices of those whom they freely denounce in their

leading articles.’’ ___

CINCHONA PLANTATION IN BOLIVIA.

THE cultivation of the cinchona in the East Indies, whichwas originally undertaken on account of the prospect thatthe supply from South America would ultimately come to anend, is having a beneficial reaction, and in Bolivia, at least,energetic attempts are being made to keep up the stock whichwas in danger of a not distant extermination. The effort

originated with private individuals in 1878; already (accord-ing to the report of the Dutch Consul) there are on the banksof the Mapiri at La Paz four or five hundred thousand youngtrees of two years’ growth. In other places new plantationsare springing up, chiefly on the mountain slopes, which arecultivated for three-fourths of their height, while thecinchona tree is found growing on the summit or in valleysand ravines. The tree was once abundant over the slopes,but has long since disappeared from them, under the waste-ful system of destroying the trees. Even now the trunks oftrees may be found rotting on the ground, the bark removedfrom the upper surface only.The task of culture is an easy one in the original haunts

of the cinchona. It only requires a few days in the,year to

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clear the ground necessary for a cinchona plantation, to

transplant the young trees from the nurseries, and to keepthe ground free from weeds during the first and second years,and afterwards the trees may be left to themselves. But in

the uncultivated tracts of land more capital and labour arerequired, although the expense of purchase is not great, sincea tract of land fifty-nine miles long was sold for £100. The

clearing away of the dense forest is the most troublesome

part of the work. Banana trees are planted between thecinchona seedlings to give them shade for the first year ortwo, when the chief danger is from drought and ants.

It is estimated that these plantations may possibly be asource of danger to the cinchona cultivators of India if theyare managed with energy, and that whether sufficient zealwill be forthcoming will depend on the cinchona bark main.taining its high price. If its price falls considerably, thecultivation of cocoa will be more profitable, and the supplyof labour scarcely suffices at present for energetic attentionto the two industries.

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FLOGGING IN THE ARMY.

IT is with especial satisfaction we hail the abolition offlogging in the army. This is one of the reforms which thelate Mr. Wakley set on foot, and in regard to which he wasdeeply in earnest. THE LANCET, as an organ of pro-fessional opinion, has always taken a prominent part in themovement. The " Hounslow inquest" will be fresh in therecollection of many of our readers; and it will not be for-gotten that the inquiry, which elicited the most startlingand significant facts, was adjourned ten times. The lash wasthen shown to be a weapon capable of inflicting formidableand even fatal injuries on the deep structures, while appa-rently doing little harm to the superficial. It was found to bea murderous and wholly misleading instrument of torture.The moral effect a punishment of this degrading charactermust needs produce on the mind of its subject is obvious toeveryone who, not being the victim of red tape, has takenthe trouble to think about the matter seriously and im-partially. At last, then, flogging is at an end. It wouldhave been wise and more gracious if the opposition offered tothis necessary reform in high quarters had been withdrawnbefore public opinion compelled a submission which commonsfuse had long dictated.

PASTEUR’S NEW DISEASE.

IN THE LANCET for Feb. 5th, p. 220, we called attentionto the remarkable effects which M. Pasteur had obtained byinoculating rabbits and guinea-pigs with the saliva of achild which had died from hydrophobia. The animals, itwill be remembered, died thirty-six hours after inoculation,and in their blood was found a bacterial organism, whichwas quite peculiar, which could be cultivated, and then pro-duced, when. inoculated into other animals, symptoms iden-tical with those observed in the others. M. Pasteur did notassert that this was the special microbic organism of rabies,but he considered that his experiments and the microscopicalcharacters of the organism warranted the assertion that thedisease was not septicaemia, but a malady altogether new toexperimental pathology. In order to ascertain whether asimilar affection can be produced by the inoculation of thesaliva of persons who have died from other common dis-

eases, M. Pasteur has made some inoculations with such

saliva, but without any results. But since the case of hydro-phobia was in a child, M. Pasteur applied to M. Parrot foisome saliva from children dying from diseases which areregarded as nou-specific, and received some from the bodiesof three children who had died the preceding day fro re

broncho-pneumonia. In rabbits inoculated with this salivathere was found precisely the same organism as had beerdiscovered in those which had been inoculated with th(

saliva from the case of hydrophobia. He thinks it certain,therefore, that this organism may often be found, and thatit is one of those which have their habitat in the commence-ment of the alimentary tract. Hence, as he points out, it isnot in any way connected with rabies, but it is a surprisingfact there should exist in the saliva, at least of children, aspecial organism which is capable of causing so rapidly thedeath of rabbits and dogs, even when inoculated in verysmall doses. It is a fact of very great importance in theetiology of diseases which may be ascribed to microscopicorganisms. ___

THE GENERAL MEDICAL COUNCIL.

WE understand that the General Medical Council is sum-moned to meet on April 26th, and the Executive Com-mittee on the 12th. It is not easy for outsiders to divinewhat can be the justification of another meeting of theCouncil in less than two months after the last, when theCouncil came from the four winds, and at a great cost, forone day, to reinstate a few hundred deregistered dentistsunder the Dentists Act, very much at the bidding ofcounsel. Another meeting at a very inconvenient seasondoes not necessarily therefore mean anything urgent, or anybusiness in which the profession or the public can havemuch interest. Noacs verrons.

HOSPITAL SATURDAY.

A GREAT effort is being made in Liverpool to make theSaturday collections, representing the interest of workmenin hospitals, more satisfactory than hitherto. It is thoughtif employers of labour would take the trouble to have theobject fairly and systematically placed before their em-

ployés the object would be gained. Liverpool, in this

matter, does better than London. But Liverpool is far

behind Birmingham. In eight years the working men ofLiverpool, with a population of 150,000 more than that ofBirmingham, have contributed £ 16,738 14s. lOd., against£29,815 9s. ld. by the smaller population. The secretaryof the Hospital Saturday movement in Birmingham modestlyattributes the difference to more system rather than to moreliberality. He says : " We find the largest contributionsare received from those establishments where a systematiccollection is made-that is to say, where a sum is set aside

weekly. The men do not miss a penny a week, but 4s. 4d.out of one week’s wages would be a very heavy tax onthem." We cannot but hope that the working-classes, withtheir growing power of organisation, will, with or withoutassistance from their employers, see that this object is onedeserving of systematic help, and one in which their creditis concerned. To set aside a penny a week for a worthycontribution to great national charities, existing chiefly fortheir benefit, is surely only a reasonable sacrifice.

ROYAL COMMISSION ON THE MEDICAL ACTS.

THE Daily News of the 23rd ult. had an article approvingthe determination of the Government to refer the investiga-tion of the Medical Acts to a Royal Commission, and point.ing out that everything depends on the composition of theCommission. Our contemporary says : " The earnestnessof the Government will be judged by the composition of theRoyal Commission. Successive Governments have beenmisled much in this matter through consulting only theGeneral Medical Council, which is the very body and repre-sents the very bodies under criticism. If the GeneralMedical Council is to advise the nominations, we need notsay that the Royal Commission will be a form, not to say afarce, and had better not be appointed." Our contemporarygoes on to express confidence in the Government and its

belief that the Commission will be one that will command the

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respect both of the public and of the medical profession. One

thing is certain, that the public will not in this matter havefaith in a Commission which does not commend itself tothe medical profession. ___

THE RUSSIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY.

IN an engagement with the Tekes on the 21st July(2nd August) last, Dr. Stouditsky, one of the medical menattached to the detachment from the Red Cross Society withthe Transcaspian Army, was killed. He left a widow entirelyunprovided for. The circumstances were brought to theattention of the late Emperor in a report presented to himon the 15th (27th) February last, and, in recognition of theservices which had been rendered by her husband duringthe Transcaspian campaign, he was pleased to accord toMadame Stouditsky a life pension of 600 roubles.

A VERY large gathering of Guy’s men from all parts of thecountry took place at the rooms of the Medical Society ofLondon, Chandos-street, W., on Friday, March 25th, on theoccasion of the presentation of a testimonial to Dr. Habershonand Mr. Cooper Forster. Mr. Lund of Manchester pre-sided, and in the names of the subscribers, who numberedmore than three hundred, presented to Dr. Habershon andMr. Cooper Forster respectively a handsome silver epergneand an album, containing an address, followed by the namesof the subscribers. Dr. Habershon and Mr. Cooper Forsterwere most cordially received, and the meeting passed off inthe most satisfactory manner. A large number of thosepresent then adjourned to the Langham Hotel, where Dr.Habershon and Mr. Cooper Forster were entertained atdinner.

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PROFESSOR HELMHOLTZ is announced to deliver the

Faraday Lecture at the Royal Institution, Albemarle-street,on the occasion of the triennial festival of the Chemical

Society to be held on the 5th inst. The subject will be" On the Modern Development of Faraday’s Conceptions ofElectricity."

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THE Managers of the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary haveissued a report confirming the system of tutorial instructionas conducted in the medical and surgical wards. They prac-tically continue to ignore the requirements of students ingynaecology, since they altogether abstain from makingmention of that subject in their report.

ON March 13th, 1881, Mr. Warrington Haward employedthe rectal lever in a case of amputation at the hip joint.The following week Mr. Richard Davy used the lever as avaluable diagnostic agent, prior to deligation of the leftexternal iliac artery.

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THE death is announced of Dr. Harkin, of Vanleekhill,member of the Ontario Legislature.

GuY’s HOSPITAL.-At a meeting of the Medicaland Surgical Staff of Guy’s Hospital, held March 14th, 1881,it was resolved :-" That the best thanks of the Medical andSurgical Staff of Guy’s Hospital be offered to the membersof the Norwich Medico-Chirurgical Society, for the vote ofsympathy sent to them by the Society in January last.That the Society be informed that the staff of Guy’s Hospitalhave never for a moment relaxed their efforts to accomplishthe object they had first in view-viz., to place the medicalstaff in their right position as regards the management ofthe Hospital ; and they are happy to state that all questionsaffecting the medical care and nursing of the patients arereferred to a committee, on which the staff are now re-presented."

Public Health and Poor Law.LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.

REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH.

Chesterfield (Rural).-Dr. Angus Mackintosh’s report forthis district for 1880 is, as usual, noteworthy for the con-scientious care with which it deals with the several dutieswhich the medical officer of health has to perform in relationto the particular district. The death-rate was equal to 20’2per 1000 inhabitants, the birth-rate to 48’0. Dr. Mackintoshdirects particular attention to the effects upon the healthand comfort of colliers on their return home direct fromthe pit in their begrimed clothes, contaminating the atmo-sphere of the dwelling with coal-dust, blackening and soilingwhatever they touch, while as a rule their contracted

cottages are destitute of that facility for cleansing personsand things which it is desirable they should have. Hemakes the following admirable suggestions to collieryowners :-" 1. That large and commodious baths, withproper accommodation for changing clothes, should be pro.vided in connexion with each colliery in the district, so thatevery collier on reappearing on the surface, and after divest-ing himself of his working habiliments, shall be thoroughlywashed in warm water, not less than 120° Fahrenheit, andafterwards in cold. 2. That the collier shall always wear aclean suit of clothes on going to and coming from his work,and never take the working or pit-clothes home to his house.3. That compliance with such rules should be made impera.tive by the employer on all men commencing work, and thatall expense should be defrayed in the first instance by him. Lytham (Urban), Lancashire.—Mr. William E. Pountney

reports the completion of certain improvements in thedrainage of this pleasant health-resort. The death-rate in1880 was as low as 16’6 per 1000 inhabitants. Lytham,however, it would appear, still wants a sanatorium, andMr. Pountney again urges the desirability of the sanitaryauthority providing one.

Handsivortlz (Urban), Yorkshire.-In an estimated popu.lation of 22,880, Dr. J. B. Welch reports for 1880 a birth-rate of 31’5 per 1000 inhabitants, and a death-rate of 12’5.Referring to infantile mortality, although he ascribes muchof it to mismanagement, neglect, and improper feeding,he attributes also much to the influence of heat uponfilthy surroundings, particularly the putrefaction of organicmatters. Improvements seem in progress in the districtin respect to the dealing with excremental matters, and wenote that the sanitary authority has itself undertaken theremoval of night-soil.

Thingoe (Rural), Suffolk.—Mr. Charles Scott-Kilner re-ports for this district in 1880 a birth-rate of 26’4 per 1000inhabitants, and a death-rate of 15’2. He gives a curiousinstance of a case of diphtheria in a schoolboy occurring soonafter an outbreak of sickness among fowls, which, if not

diphtheria, closely resembled that disease. Overcrowding ofcottages appears to have occupied the chief attention of thesanitary authority during the year.Bakewell (Purccl), Derbyshire. - Dr. Philip S. Fentem

reports for the northern portion of this district in 1880 abirth-rate of 26’96 per 1000 inhabitants, and a death-rate of16’01. Great care and labour were given by the sanitaryauthority to the abatement and prevention of nuisancesthroughout the year, and their requirements were carriedout without the intervention of the magistrates.Hartismere (Rural), Suffolk.—Dr. Edgar G. Barnes re-

ports a birth-rate of 31 ’2 per 1000 inhabitants, and a death-rate of 16’8. The sanitary state of the entire district hasimproved. This improvement, Dr. Barnes says, "is shownnot only in the smaller number of permanent nuisancesrequiring removal, but also by the greater care shown inpreventing their recurrence by the inhabitants of the dis-triet." The report contains several instructive instances ofthe spread of infectious diseases from the carelessness ofparents in regard to them. One is novel. Dr. Barnes foundon visiting a cottage where scarlet fever existed a travellingdraper there who had clearly been fitting convalescents fromthe disease with articles from his stock. He proceeded atonce from this house to another house, uninfected, for the