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on the works of the Villebrock Canal. The other casesoccurred among the relations and neighbours of this Ilabourer. They and their families were isolated in an out-building of the hospital at Boom. The last case on the 27thoccurred in one of these isolated contacts.

Reappearance of Plague in Jeddah.It will be recalled that in each of the last four years

outbreaks of plague have been observed in Jeddah, on theArabian coast of the Red Sea. They have nearly alwaysbegun in December or January. The 1906 outbreak was an ]

exception, as it began in May. Recently a fresh case of the ’disease has been observed there. On Jan. 8th an Indiannative of the place was found to be suffering from plague ;he had been ill for three days ; he died on the 10th. It isalso reported that a suspected case of the disease has beenlanded from a’ pilgrim ship arriving from Jeddah at thelazaret of El Tor. In consequence of these cases both the

Constantinople and Alexandria Boards of Health havedeclared the returning Haj "brut," and decreed measuresaccordingly. The principal measures applied in Turkey arethe following. Pilgrim ships returning by the Suez Canalwill do, in addition to the measures undergone in the Torlazaret, a supplementary quarantine of three days in aTurkish lazaret, with disinfection. Those going to theYemen and Basra will do five days’ quarantine with dis-infection. Pilgrims arriving at Yanbo from Jeddah will

undergo a medical visit on arrival. All pilgrims leavingJeddah will be subjected to medical inspection, and all

ships will have their rats destroyed by a Clayton apparatus,with which the port of Jeddah has recently been provided.Pilgrims returning by the Hedjaz Railway will undergo fivedays’ quarantine in the Tebuk lazaret.

Plague in the Kirghiz Steppes.The endemic centres of plague in the steppe regions to the

north of the Caspian Sea, which were described in a formerletter,2 appear to be still active. Between Nov. 5th and27th (Old Style) the disease broke out, in both its bubonicand pneumonic forms, in four "zenilianki" (half under-ground huts) in the Kirghiz encampment of Beis-Kulak,situated five versts from the "stanitza" (settlement) ofGlinensk in the Uralsk province, and 60 versts from that ofNovaia Kazanka, in the government of Astrakhan. Duringthe period mentioned 14 cases occurred, and of these 13died. A medical mission was sent to the infected place andmeasures taken, among others the inoculation against plagueof the surviving inhabitants. No further cases have sincebeen reported from this district. But a telegram datedDec. 7th (Old Style) has since been published in the papersto the following effect : The infected region of the Kirghizsteppes extends for a distance of 14 versts. and includes threeadjoining districts (rolosts) of two uyezds-those of Uralskand Lbishtchensk, lying 135 to 150 versts from the town ofUralsk. Between Nov. 12th and Dec. 4th (Old Style) 37persons died from plague in this region, and at the date ofthe telegram 31 were still under treatment.

The Cholera Epidemic of 1907 in Russia.It is remarkable that, according to the figures contained

in the annual "Report on the Public Health" in Russiafor 1907, which has just made its appearance, that

year was, generally speaking, a comparatively healthyone in spite of the cholera epidemic. The mortality inEuropean Russia fell to 27-8 per 1000 of the population,and was the lowest for the last 20 years. The total numberof cases of cholera registered was 12,716, and of deaths6421. The mortality from the majority of other infectiousdiseases was below the average. In European Russia, with arestimated population of 80,000,000, the number of death:from scarlatina was 93,448; from measles, 75,161 ; fron

typhus, typhoid, and relapsing fever, 61,404 ; from whoopingcough, 49,758; from diphtheria, 43,982; and from small-pox35,364.

2 THE LANCET, April 24th, 1909, p. 1197.

DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS.—The late Mis:Mathilde Dresden has by will left &500 to the Middlese:

Hospital, £200 being for the Medical School and £300 fogeneral purposes.-Sir John Llewelyn has given £1000 tSwansea Hospital building fund.-Under the will of the latMr. James Smith of Liverpool the David Lewis Norther:Hospital, the Wallasey Cottage Hospital, and the Victori.

Central Hospital, Liverpool, will each receive .E1000.

BRISTOL AND THE WESTERN COUNTIES(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Ordinances and Regulations of the University of Bristol.As I announced last week, provisional ordinances and

egulations of degrees, certificates, and diplomas have beenissued by the Council of the University and are in force asregulations pending their submission to the Court. The

degrees and diplomas to be obtained in each of the facultiesare defined. In the Faculty of Arts there are a Bachelorshipand a Mastership as well as a Doctorship of Letters (B.A.,M.A., D.Litt.). There is also a diploma in Education. Thereare a Bachelorship of Science, a Mastership, and a

Doctorate (B.Sc., M.Sc., D.Sc.), the latter being granted asa recognition of distinction in the field of scientific research.A candidate may become a B. Sc. on research without examina-tion. In the Faculty of Engineering the degrees are Bachelor,Master, and Doctor of Science in Engineering. Certificatesin the various branches of engineering are also obtainable.It is, however, for the purpose of explaining the degrees inMedicine that these notes are written. They are as follows :M.B. and Ch.B., M.D., Ch.M., B.D.S., and M.D.S. Inaddition to Bachelorships and Masterships in Dental Surgery,there will be a diploma entitling its holder to call himself aLicentiate in Dental Surgery (L.D.S.). There is a Diplomain Public Health (D.P.H.) and one in Veterinary StateMedicine (D.V.S.M.). For the qualifying degree (M.B.,Ch.B.) there are three examinations, covering a minimumcourse of five and a half years of study. The first examina-tion coincides with the intermediate examination of theFaculty of Science, candidates being, however, obliged totake chemistry, physics, botany, and zoology without option.A year’s instruction in these subjects is required of candidatesfor this examination. The subjects of the second examinationare : (a) organic chemistry and elementary anatomy, and (b)advanced anatomy and physiology. Parts (a) and (b) maybe taken together or separately. The final examination mayalso be taken in two parts ; the first part, consisting of materiamedica and pharmacy, pharmacology and therapeutics, andgeneral pathology with morbid anatomy and bacteriology,may not be taken until the student has completed his fourthyear of medical study. The remaining part of the examina-tion may not be taken except by students of five and a halfyears’ standing. Three of such years at least must have been

spent in the University, two of which must have been sub-sequent to passing the second examination. In the Uni-versity," so far as clinical work is concerned, will includestudy at the Royal Infirmary and at the General Hospital.)The subjects of this second part are : special pathology ;forensic medicine, toxicology, and public health ; obstetrics,including diseases of women ; surgery (systematic, clinical,practical, and operative) ; and medicine (systematic, clinical,and practical), including mental diseases. Provision is madefor excusing old Bristol students from certain parts of theUniversity examinations for the M.B., Ch.B. The degreeof M.D. may be taken in general or in State medicine. The

degree in general medicine is obtainable either through a, general examination or through a dissertation ; in the latter

case the candidate will be examined in the subject and inthe branch of medicine to which his dissertation refers. InState medicine the candidate must hold a D.P.H. and satisfy

. the examiners in applied chemistry, pathology, and sanitary; science, with any two of six optional subjects. Candidates; for the degree of Ch.M. must present a dissertation ; this,if of sufficient merit, may be held to excuse the general

examination in surgery otherwise required, except that in all1 cases an oral examination in clinical and operative surgery-

must be passed. The regulations referring to the Diploma inPublic Health are lengthy ; all that need be said here is that’

the examinations for the D.P.H. are two, the first being inapplied chemistry and applied pathology, and the second in

- public health and epidemiology, sanitary law, vital statistics,-

and sanitary reporting. The Bachelorship of Dental Surgery3 is obtained after passing four examinations and after five yearsK of dental surgery, three at least within the University. Detailsras to the Mastership and the Licence in Dental Surgery areoalso published at length. The regulations relating to thee Diploma in Veterinary State Medicine are not yet forth-n coming. One or two points of special interest in the attend-a ance regulations remain to be noted. Elementary anatomy

includes a course of lectures on osteology and the dissection

401

of one limb ; advanced anatomy, five terms, including twowinter sessions and one winter session of dissection. Inmedicine and surgery three years’ hospital practice is

required, with proficiency in clinical pathology. The courseof pathology is to include 12 months’ attendance at post-mortem examinations. In obstetrics the student must attendeither 25 cases of labour at an approved lying-in hospital or30 cases in an approved extern department. Certificates inanaesthetics are to cover not less than 30 administrations.Candidates for the Ch.M. must attend the surgical practiceof some approved institution for at least two years after

taking the degrees of M.B., Ch.B. This outline suffices toshow that the policy adopted by the University is to set a

high standard of attainment, so that its graduates (whoare not likely to be numerous at first) may from the veryoutset carry into the world of practice efficient knowledgeand skill, and thereby justify the existence of a Universityschool of medicine in Bristol.Feb. 1st.

__________________

BIRMINGHAM.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)a

The University. r

Professor J. W. Taylor has resigned the chair of Gynseoologyand the Council has passed the following resolution : " Thatthe Council accepts the resignation of Professor Taylor withgreat regret. It desires to convey to him its thanks for hisservices to the University and its best wishes for his restora-tion to health." Dr. Robert M. Simon, physician to theGeneral Hospital, has been elected to the chair of Thera-peutics, which was vacant by the death of Professor Foxwell.On the nomination of the Dean of the Medical Facultythe Council has appointed Professor Peter Thompson Sub- c

Dean of the Faculty. Mr. George Heaton, surgeon to the r

General Hospital, has been appointed lecturer in Operative t

Surgery, and Dr. Edgar P. Hedley demonstrator in 1

Chemistry. Last year death robbed the University of two of its most brilliant teachers, Professor Bridge and Professor tFoxwell. It is with much regret that I now record the death tof Professor William Hillhouse, who until recently occupied ithe chair of botany at the University. He was held in very high esteem, both in respect of his personal qualities and his educational attainments. He had been connected with 1

Birmingham as a professor since 1882, when he left Cambridge to join the staff of Mason College. Besides his Universitywork he took an active part in the social and educational work of the city. For many years he was honorary secretary of the Botanical Gardens, and until his death occupied thechair of the Council of the Midland Reafforesting Associa-tion. The steady growth of the University is shown by thefact that each year the cosmopolitan character of thestudents becomes more marked. At the present time thereare 79 foreign or colonial students. Siam, Roumania,Argentina, West Africa, Japan, China, France, Poland,Russia, Germany, United States, South America, and

Portugal have all sent students. The majority are attractedby the courses in mining, engineering, and commerce, butthe medical faculty claims four.

Worcester Eye Hospital.At the annual meeting it was reported that the out-patients

numbered 1112, as compared with 1071 in 1908, and thein-patients 59, as compared with 71. The total income was£563, against .E445 the previous year; and the expenditure.E537, against .E417. Annual subscriptions had increasedfrom E281 to 6325.

Tamworth Hospital.The annual report shows that 232 patients were treated

last year, a decrease of 3. The total number of days spentin the hospital by all patients was 6499, as against 7251, theaverage stay of each patient being 26 days. The cost perhead for maintenance worked out at 15s. 3 3/4d. per week. Thefinancial statement showed a balance due to the treasurerof £16 12s. lld.

Birmingham Education Committee.In connexion with the Gem-street School for the Deaf it

has been decided to establish a course of language forbackward children, based largely on finger spelling andwriting. The other children are taught on the oral system.

There has been a considerable increase in the number ofstudents in the evening classes in lip-reading.

Birmingham Crime.The statistics prepared by the Chief Constable for the

Home Office give the satisfactory information that there hadbeen a decline all round in the crime of the city during lastyear. There were no cases of murder and a considerabledecrease in the number of burglaries, robberies withviolence, cases of wounding, and attempted suicide. Theindictable crimes per 1000 of the population were 3’72.The number of persons proceeded against for drunkennesswas 3552, against 3230 in the previous year. The figuresfor drunkenness rise and fall from year to year, but referenceto a series of years shows a gradual improvement.

Distress in Birmingham.The wintry weather has accentuated the distress. The

building trade is most affected, and the conditions are asbad as those of last year, when the amount of distress

among labourers reached its highest level. But the experi-ence of the City Aid Society and Distress Committee showsthat the condition of unemployment generally is not nearlyso bad as it was last year. Only 1000 names are on theDistress Register as compared with about 6000 last year,and the City Aid Society does not regard the distress as abovenormal for Birmingham in the heart of the winter.Feb. lst.

__________________

MANCHESTER.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Guardians and Consumption.BOARDS of guardians seem inclined to consider more

:losely than has been their wont their relation to, and theiresponsibility for, the numbers of phthisical cases that fall to,heir care and keeping. The overtures made by the Chorlton)oard to that of Manchester, as to jointly approaching theManchester corporation, and urging the provision of sana-oriums, has not met with a very encouraging response. It was;o the effect that the Manchester board was of opinion that.t was better for the guardians to treat cases in wards speci-ally provided at their own hospitals. Opinions may very welljiffer as to the wisdom of this advice. The chairman ofthe Chorlton board said that the corporation was the properauthority to take up this scheme. It could get at cases theguardians could not reach. It had powers to search for con-sumptive cases, which the board could not do. It was intouch with such cases, but had nowhere to put them. Inconnexion with the power of search, of course, early cases,the most hopeful ones, could be put in better conditions forrecovery, whereas those that have drifted into the work-house are, as a rule, too far advanced to allow of much hope.The chairman said that the corporation had not done itsduty. "It would be better for it to spend money on a schemelike this, than £100,000 on a new library, and that kind ofthing." Whatever may be thought about a new library, it isquite certain that in the public interest, to say nothing of thepatients, the sufferers from phthisis ought to be cared forand removed from surroundings bad often for themselves anddangerous to their families. The clerk made an observation,the truth of which is undeniable, that ’’ a corporationsanatorium would attract people who would rather die thango into a Poor-law institution." The outcome of the dis-cussion was the passing of a resolution that the corporationbe asked to receive a deputation from the board. More willno doubt be heard of this matter. It is indeed quite timefor the Chorlton board to act if the statement, madepublicly, is true that the phthisis wards of their hospital atWithington are so crowded that though extra beds have beenput up some of the patients have to sleep on the floor, andthat there are cases in most of the other wards.

Small-pox in Cotton.From time to time the cotton towns are liable to the very

insidious introduction of small-pox in the bales of cotton.Several cases, four certainly, due to this cause have recentlyoccurred at Heywood through infected cotton from Egypt.All contact cases are being closely watched.

Midwife Censured.An unregistered and unqualified midwife was severely