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maintained, but it is possible to see from one compartment tcthe others. There are large windows and the floors are easilydrained and washed. The sewer of the slaughter-house iswithin a few yards of the outfall directly into the deep sea.There is no connexion with the general sewers, as theslaughter-house is at the farthest point out into the deepsea. Also, as the terrace on which the slaughter-housestands is a ledge of the high rock rising in a perpendicularmanner from the sea, the contents of the pouches, of theintestines, and the offal generally can be thrown directly intothe water, for there is no tide and the water is deep.Indeed, there is at this point one of the sewer outfalls fromthe old town above, and it was here also that the houserefuse used to be thrown into the sea before a destructorhad been built.

Apart, however, from the great convenience of the positionthe general state of affairs at this slaughter-house is abso-lutely primitive. The fittings are of the most elementarycharacter and there are no appliances for the cuttingup and dressing of the carcasses. A bullock’s carcass

when hung up cannot be moved from the place whereit hangs. The contents of the intestines are placedin a wooden bucket or cask that is not even on wheelsbut has to be lifted in men’s arms and carried to theplace where its contents can be tilted into a hole about afoot in diameter. Of course, being of wood it can never beefficiently cleaned. The hole destined to receive the filthand offal communicates with an iron sewer-pipe thatdescends vertically into the slaughter-house sewer, whichhas its outfall into the sea just underneath. Here the whitefoam of the blue Mediterranean beats upon the pink rock ofMonaco. Some 300 feet straight above the grey battlementsof the ancient fortress recall a military past, while the highand majestic walls of the new Oceanic Museum testify to thepacific and modern triumphs of science. It is quite certainthat such an ancient and unscientific slaughter-housecannot remain long close to the wonderful museum whichPrince Albert is building just above. For instance, there isno proper apparatus for dealing with hogs. When a pig iskilled the carcass is placed in a wooden trough and someboiling water is poured over it so that the bristles may bemore easily scraped off. If hot water is required eachbutcher must light his own fire and boil water in a littleboiler constructed somewhat on the same lines as the boilerin the scullery of an English workman’s cottage, which isused on washing days. Fortunately, there is no tripe-dressing here. If any meat is condemned and has to bedestroyed the process is, to say the least, somewhat peculiar.Near the sewer outfall there is a cemented cesspit. Herethe condemned carcasses are placed and covered with

quicklime; then occasionally the decomposed contents ofthis cesspit are pushed out into the sea. But perhaps thefact that there is no general hot water-supply in this

slaughter-house is sufficient and speaks for itself. Never-theless, what a glorious position this slaughter-houseoccupies ; how complete its isolation and pure the surround-ing sea air. This covers a multitude of minor sins which

may easily be forgiven and forgotten in virtue of this uniqueadvantage.The slaughter-house was built in 1886 and the debt then

contracted has not yet been completely paid off, yet a muchlarger sum will now be needed to build a modern abattoir.It is said that the butchers cannot be expected tocontribute to this outlay because the sale price ofmeat is fixed by Government decree and they already paya large sum for the use of the slaughter-house. ThisI was told amounted to 20 fr. 40 c. for killing a bullock,5 fr. 25 c. for a calf, 1 fr. 75 c. for a sheep, 3 fr. 25 c.for a hog, and 75 c. for a lamb. On the other hand, beefof the first quality must not be sold dearer than 1 fr. 80 c.the kilogramme, or about 9d. per pound. The choice

pieces, however, may be sold at 2 fr. 20 c. the kilogrammeor Ild. per pound. Veal of first quality is -kd. per poundcheaper, but the choice pieces are about ls. per pound, andthe first quality of mutton is 1ld. per pound and pork 10d.per pound. It is not, however, necessary to give the full listof prices, the principle involved is the interesting factor.In this respect, speaking to the proprietor and manager of 1a hotel, I found that he did not think this law was effective. lThe butchers very generally charged more than the tariff price. Certainly anyone so charged could fetch the nearest ipoliceman and the butcher would then be prosecuted and 1

punished. But it would fare ill with such a customer and 1he would ever after find it difficult to get promptly and t

osatisfactorily served. My informant thought the fact thaty meat could be imported into the principality from Nice ands other places did more to keep down the price charged by the,. Monaco butchers than the Government decrees.e The slaughtering and the meat trade of the principality are3 regulated by the police ordinance of June 6th, 1867, and3 Article 472, No. 13 of the Penal Code. It is therein enactedr that no animals shall be slaughtered elsewhere than in thepublic slaughter-house. Thus, and for a long time now, theabomination of private slaughter-houses has been abolished. in the principality. The same ordinance stipulates for thei examination of every animal and its seizure and slaughterif diseased. Then no meat is to be sold unless it bears a

r black stamp with the number 1, 2, and 3, according tawhether the meat is of first, second, or third quality. This

seems to be an excellent regulation, as obviously a more-impartial judge than the butcher himself should decide as towhich quality or category the meat belongs. All meatimported must be taken to the slaughter-house and there

examined and marked according to its quality before the, retail bntcher can be allowed to expose it for sale. Of course, if any of this imported meat should be spoilt or not fresh it isidestroyed by the authorities. All skins, tripe, horns, and fat

must be removed from the slaughter-house every day andmanure every other day. Goats must be more than 20, lambs

30, and calves 40 days old before they are slaughtered for food.Butchers must not leave the slaughter-house till they havethoroughly cleansed the premises ; and, from what I wasable to see, this rule is well observed. The meat can onlybe conveyed from the slaughter-house to the butchers’ shopsin closed vehicles. Then there is a decree of Jan. 20th,1888, which says that the veterinary surgeon intrusted withthe inspection of the maikets and shops must live in theprincipality and inspect the entire premises of the slaughter-house every day so as to see that all is kept clean and toseize all unwholesome meat and unhealthy animals. All the

shops where food is sold must be constantly inspectedand the veterinary surgeon must also visit every stablein the principality at least once in the course ofthe year and see to the health of the animals.living therein. This latter clause is quite a specialenactment. It places all animals and all stables underthe surveillance of a qualified veterinary surgeon and musthave a very beneficent effect, not only from the point ofview of the health of man and beast, but also in the pre-vention of cruelty to animals. The principality of Monacois in most things prompt to apply all modern improve-ments, but it must be confessed that in regard to its

public slaughter-house it is not on a level with moderndevelopments. On the other hand, it must also be statedthat the Government is fully cognisant of this fact anddetermined to build a new and model slaughter-house a&

soon as possible.

BIRMINGHAM.(FROM OUR OWN CORRE3PONDENT.)

The University.THE annual report of the Council of the University

recently presented at the annual meeting of the governorsis no less interesting than many of its predecessors and itserves to give the supporters of the University a general ideaof the past prcgress and the future needs of the institution.So far as progress is concerned, there has been a continuousadvance in the number of students attending all thefaculties except that of medicine. In the latter there hasbeen a fairly steady decline since 1903 up to the end of theperiod embraced by the report (1905-06), but the treasurer,in drawing attention to this, pointed out that the entry ofstudents in the medical faculty for 1906-07 was greater thanit ever had been since the University was founded and heexpressed the hope that, in view of the increased facilitieswhich are now provided, the increase will continue. Theadvance in the number of the students as a whole has beencoincident with the increased advantages offered to them, andthe progress that has been made in the establishment of newlaboratories, new professorships, and new lectureships is

certainly very remarkable. The accommodation providedfor the teaching and study of the applied sciences at the newbuildings at Bournbrook is magnificent and quite eclipsesthat provided at any other British university. Naturallythe provision of all the advantages now offered has been very

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expensive and the upkeep is costly. Moreover, it must

necessarily increase if progress is to continue, but althoughthe advantages offered to the students have been greatlyincreased the fees charged have remained the same.

It is contemplated, however, that the low fees hitherto

charged will have to be increased to a more reason-

able amount, and apparently there will be no difficultyin obtaining higher fees, for the demand for accommodationis rapidly becoming so great that even the new laboratorieswill not be able to meet it. Yet even if the fees are raised, andraised without diminishing the entry, the amount so gainedwill be comparatively small and it will in no way sufficefor the increasing requirements. Other means will haveto be found and more money provided before long unlessthe usefulnes of the University is to be seriously impaired.Money is needed now, and will be still more needed shortly, alike for endowment, to meet standing expenses, and forpurposes of further expansion, and it is to be hoped thatdonors will see their way to place what they give entirely atthe disposal of the council without ear-marking it for specialpurposes. Specially devoted gifts frequently cause addi-tional standing expense without providing any means

whereby that Expense may be met, for under existing con-ditions it can never be met by increase of students. ThePrincipal struck the right chord when he said that thecommunity at large should not look upon the money it gaveto provide higher education in the light of giving charity."There was no charity in the matter. There was onlythe natural responsibility of one generation to the next andof the whole community for those who were going to serveit on a high level in the future."

Tubervitlosis and Milk-supply.Our health committee has been attempting to discover by

means of the examination of numerous samples whatsources of milk-supply are infected with tubercle anddefinite results have been obtained ; indeed, so definite thatone farmer has already been requested to destroy a cow themilk of which was proved to be contaminated with tubercle,and it is believed that a similar course will be taken withthe owners of other infected animals. The medical officer ofhealth (Dr. J. Robertson) has suggested that there should bea thorough systematic examination of the cowsheds in ruraldistricts, such as is now carried out in the city, and aregular inspection of cows by a special official who shouldbe provided with power to order the destruction of diseasedanimals. It is further suggested that compensation shouldbe paid to the owner only up to half the value of theanimal destroyed, and it is hoped that the knowledge that hewill have to bear half the loss will make him more diligentin providing and maintaining satisfactory quarters for hisanimals.

Midwives and Parish Medical Officers.Midwives attending to necessitous cases have at times had

difficulty in obtaining medical assistance, for it has not beenthe custom for medical men to attend cases merely on thereport of the midwife that the patient is unable to pay theusual fee. The difficulty has been so great and the results havebeen so serious that the matter has been brought before thehealth committee. After careful consideration it has beendecided by the guardians that their medical officers shall beinstructed to attend cases of difficulty at the request of themidwife in charge and without an order from the relievingofficer. It is of course understood that the midwife shallonly call for medical help when it is absolutely necessaryand when she is satisfied that the patient cannot pay, and themedical officers are to act at once, leaving the guardians todecide afterwards whether the patient was able to pay or not.

Diphtheria at Hatton.A rather serious outbreak of diphtheria has occurred at

Hatton and has necessitated the closing of the school.Apparently the sanitary conditions of the place are not satis-factory, but the medical officer of health of Mid-Warwick-shire (Dr. George Wilson) has not been able to localise anydefinite source of infection. The sewage outfall from theasylum appears to be suspected as a source, and numerouscases of sore-throat have been reported from houses in thevicinity of the outfall. It appears, however, that the sani-tary arrangements at the school are also defective and boththe possible sources of trouble are to be remedied. It is apity that the need for the greatest care in sanitary matters isso often only forced home in so many cases by disease anddeath.

The Health Report of Castle Bromwich.Dr. A. Bostock Hill’s annual report on the health of this

rural district shows that definite progress is being made. Thedeath-rate for the year has been reduced to 9 65 per 1000.This includes a reduction of the zymotic death-rate to1’ 3 per 1000, which it had previously exceeded. The diph-theria cases of the district occur mainly in the neighbour-hood of the sewage farm and it is hoped the increased use ofbacteria beds will be followed by a reduction in the numberof these cases. Dr. Hill makes a special point of the factthat the birth-rate has risen during the year from 20’ 0 to25 - 51 per 1000.Feb. 19th.

WALES AND WESTERN COUNTIES NOTES(FROM OUR OWN OORRESPONDENTS.)

Cardiff Infirmary.THE Cardiff corporation has subscribed for many years to

the funds of the infirmary. The money has not always beenvoted without some discussion, often of an adverse character,and on the last occasion it was suggested by a few membersof the city council that some representation on the governingbody of the infirmary should be claimed by the corporationin return for the subscription, which is at present 200guineas annually. At the last meeting of the board ofmanagement of the infirmary it was decided to submit to theannual meeting of the govemors such alterations of rules aswould admit of the corporation being represented on theboard of management. Although it was contended by somethat several members of the board were also members of thecorporation, it was eventually decided to recommend thatduring the continuance of the yearly grant the corporationshould have five seats on the board.

Health Report of Cardiff.In his preliminary report on the health of Cardiff during

1906 the medical officer of health (Dr. E. Walford) statesthat the birth-rate was 27 2 per 1000 and that the death-rate of 14’2 per 1000 was the lowest rate recorded since1852.

Municipal Motor Wagons.The household and trade refuse of Cardiff is deposited on

"tips" on the outskirts of the town. As the inhabitedbounds of the borough are every year getting farther andfarther from the centre the difficulty of obtaining suitableland for depositing the refuse increases. The greaterdistance for cartage adds, moreover, very considerably to thecost of dealing with the refuse. When the city engineersuggested two years ago that motor wagons should be usedfor the purpose of carting away this refuse it was confidentlyexpected that there would be a considerable saving comparedwith haulage by horses. It appears, however, that theseanticipations have not been fulfilled and it has beendecided to return to horse haulage except in the case

of one depot situated at some distance from the pointof collection and for which two motor wagons willbe retained. In the large towns of South Wales refusedestructors have not been so generally adopted as

they have in industrial towns elsewhere. Whenever the

proposal to erect one in Cardiff has been made the greatinitial cost has been sufficient excuse for postponing theproject. It is pretty certain, however, that the questionwill have to be faced before long. In Swansea the refuseis got rid of partly by means of a destructor and partly bysending it out in barges and discharging it into the sea. Itis not quite correct perhaps to say that it is got rid of bybeing discharged into the sea, for during the past few monthsmany complaints have been made by the inhabitants ofAberavon, a town situated on the Swansea bay, that muchof the barged refuse from Swansea is washed up on theAberavon beach. For some time the Swansea corporationcontended that this was impossible, but it has now had toadmit that it was mistaken, for certain marked packageswhich were purposely thrown overboard from the refuse

barge were subsequently found upon the Aberavon beach.Health Report of Dolgelly.

In his annual report to the Dolgelly urban council (NorthWales) Dr. Hugh Jones, the medical officer of health, statesthat the birth-rate during 1906 was considerably below theaverage for the United Kingdom and that there was also a