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Poland. Everything was done to prevent the free develop-ment of thought. The Government wanted doctors andengineers ; but, on the other hand, looked on education as adanger, as a power that menaced social order. Hence theuniversities and the upper schools were checked in theirdevelopment by all manner of prohibitory decrees. In one

province, possessing 7,000,000 inhabitants, there were onlytwenty schools for secondary education. The children of

jjjoor parents were by law excluded from the universities,;and only those who were very rich and considered favourableto the Government were admitted. The want of doctors,’engineers, and educated men in Russia would soon assumethe proportions of a national calamity. Madame Corradi,a Russian delegate, described the torture of children set touninteresting tasks of Latin and Greek, taught like parrots,not allowed to think, and so uselessly and stupidly over-worked that suicide among school children had becomequite epidemic in Russia.The Congress, at its last sitting, decided to constitute

itself into an International Association of Educators, andM. Francolin, 174, Faubourg St. Denis, was elected inter-national secretary. The Association will seek to promotein every country the cause of free and scientific education.

SANITATION IN BENGAL.1

THE Report of the Sanitary Commissioner for Bengal justissued comprises four subjects: (1) The vital statistics ofthe general population; (2) general history of the chiefdiseases; (3) sanitary work (civil) ; and (4) personal pro-ceedings. As regards the first of these-the vital statisticsof the general population,-the system of registration inBengal is still so very imperfect that no reliance can beplaced upon the returns either of births or deaths. Dr.

regg gives several instances of the results of the imperfectregistration of births, and remarks, " it is needless toobserve that these figures are ridiculously inaccurate." Asa-egards the deaths, the Lieutenant-Governor, in calling.attention to fourteen municipalities in which the reporteddeath-rate ranged between 6’67 andl2’79 per 1000, "is con-strained to remark that these results are very discreditableto the municipal committees, especially in the case of thosemunicipalities in which the Act has been in force for manyyears. It is obvious, as remarked by the Sanitary Commis-sioner, that the registration both of births and deaths is stillso extremely defective that no trustworthy conclusions can bedrawn from it, either with regard to the general health ofthe province, or the healthiness of the year under report, ascompared with that of previous years." We hope, thoughwe are by no means sanguine, that the steps recommendedto be adopted to improve the registration may result inobtaining more reliable data on these important points.The history of the chief diseases, though wanting in

numerical accuracy as a measure of the death-rate of thepeople, may be usefully studied as indicating the chiefcauses of mortality and leading to a study of those measuresby which they may be ameliorated or removed. The death-irate in the Province as shown by the returns amounted to22’94 per 1000 of population, and of this 16’53, or upwardsof two-thirds, appear under the head of fever. The monthsin which the mortality from this cause is highest are

October to January inclusive, and those in which it islowest are June and July. " The high mortality duringthe last three months of the year is undoubtedly dueto malarial fever caused by the marshy and water-logged condition of the country after the rains." The-cause of fever was pointed out many years ago by Dr.D. B. Smith, the late lamented Professor of Hygiene atNetley, to be chiefly want of drainage, partial or completestagnation of watercourses, and saturation of the soil withmoisture. The adoption of a well-devised and efficientsystem of drainage, therefore, would appear to be the mostlikely means of combating this source of disease anddeath, and with it provision should also be made for thesupply of wholesome water, as there can be no doubtthat a considerable amount of fever is due to the impureand filthy quality of that which is too often the onlyavailable. The disease next in importance as a cause

1 Twenty-first Annual Report of the Sanitary Commissioner forBengal for the year 1888, by Surgeon-Major W. H. Gregg, M.B.

of death is cholera, by which in 1888 there were 11,391deaths registered, being 1-68 per 1000 of the populationat the last census. It was most fatal in May and July." The departmental reports do not cast any new light uponthe etiology of cholera....... The civil surgeon’s reports,however, contain evidence which is in the main confirmatoryof the view that outbreaks of cholera are traceable to pollu-tion of drinking water, and that dissemination of the diseaseis largely dependent on water fouling." This affords anadditional reason for improving the water-supply and pro-tecting it from contamination. Of the other diseases nonegave rise to a high death-rate ; that from bowel complaintswas 0’79 per 1000, and from injuries 0’40. Of the latter,wounds and accidents caused one-half, snake-bites and wildbeasts one-fourth, and suicide one-tenth. It is worthyof remark that the number of suicides recorded was greateramong women than men, in about the proportion of 3 to2, but it is possible this may be a result of the defec-tive registration. Under the head of "Sanitary Works(Civil)," Dr. Gregg calls attention to the very insignificantamount expended on sanitary works and improvements,such as drainage, water-supply, and public latrines, whichare among the most urgent requirements of the province ;and he also strongly advocates the disposal of the dead bycremation, which, he states, when completely and properlycarried out, is free from anything offensive either to sightor smell. The abstracts of the inspection reports affordmelancholy evidence of how little has been done to

improve the towns since the last inspection, and of howmuch remains to be done before they can be deemed ina fairly good sanitary condition.

HOSPITAL REUNIONS.

St. BartholoJnew’s.-The annual dinner of the old studentsof St. Bartholomew’s Hospital was held on Tuesdayevening in the great hall of the hospital, Mr. John

Langton in the chair. About 120 sat down to dinner,and grace was said by the Vicar of the parish, which iscompletely covered by the hospital. The usual loyal toasts,as well as those of the school, the hospital, the visitors,the chairman, and the secretary of the dinner were drunkwith enthusiasm. Dr. Hill, Master of Downing College,Cambridge, a former scholar of the school, was one of theguests ot the evening, as also were Professors Humphryand MacAlister, the Registrar of the Royal College ofPhysicians, and Sir Frederick Abel. After dinner coffeewas served in the library.

St. Thomas’s.-On Tuesday afternoon the MedicalSession at the School attached to this hospital was

inaugurated by the usual delivery of an introductorylecture. Mr. W. Anderson gave the address in the after-noon at three o’clock in the large female operating theatre.Mr. Anderson had selected for his subject, the Historyof Surgery," and throughout there was the greatestattention paid by the large audience present to a mostinteresting and learned address. At 6.30 P.M. the annualdinner was held in the Governor’s Hall of the hospital, andthere was a large meeting of members of the staff, and oldand present students of the hospital. The chair wastaken by Dr. John Harley, who, after the usual loyaltoasts, proposed the " Army, Navy, and Reserve Forces,"to which Surgeon Harris, A.M.D., Mr. Mackellar, andSir W. MacCormac responded. To the toast of "St.Thomas’s Hospital," proposed by the Chairman, Mr.J. G. Wainwright, one of the governors, and an almoner ofthe hospital for sixteen years, responded, in the absence ofMr. Alderman Stone, the treasurer. Mr. Wainwrightreferred to the financial condition of the hospital and tothe good understanding which exists between the medicalstaff and the hospital authorities. Mr. John Croft proposedthe " Health of the Chairman," who briefly replied. Mr.Nettleship, the Dean, responded to the toast of the MedicalSchool," proposed by Professor Charles Stewart. Dr. Ordproposed the " Old Students," and Mr. H. Lavers of Col-chester and Mr. W. F. Haslam of Birmingham replied. The"Health of the Secretaries " (Dr. H. P. Hawkins and Mr.H. B. Robinson) was proposed by Mr. Sidney Plowman, andthey each briefly replied. At the termination of the officialtoast list Mr. W. F. Haslam proposed the " Healthof Mr. Plowman," the sentiments to which he gave utter-

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ance being enthusiastically received, and Mr. Plowmanbriefly replied.Middlcscx.-The annual dinner of the past and present

students of this hospital was held on Tuesday eveningin the Venetian Salon of the Holborn Restaurant. Therewas an unusually large number present, and the festivalwas most successful. Dr. Douglas Powell was in the chair,and was supported by nearly all his colleagues, by severalmembers of the Weekly Board of the hospital, and bya large number of old Middlesex men. After dinnerthe usual toasts were duly honoured. In a very happyspeech Dr. Powell proposed the toast of the evening,the " Middlesex Hospital and Medical School," whichwas responded to by Mr. Bell-Sedgwick, the vice-cliair-man of the Weekly Board, who has been a member of theboard for over thirty-five years, and by the dean, Mr. PearceGould. The toast of the " Past and Present Students," pro-posed by Mr. Hulke, was responded to by Mr. Freeman, whois now mayor of Bath, and by Mr. Daniel, the senior BroderipScholar. During the evening Mr. Wilhelm Ganz played a

pianoforte solo, and Mr. Hulbert Fullerson and Mr. CharlesGanz sang various songs. The dinner, the speeches, andthe music were all declared to be excellent.

St. Geor.qe’s.-At the conclusion of the introductoryaddress by Dr. Clifford Allbutt on Oct. lst, the usual

ceremony of the distribution of the prizes was presided overby Sir Henry Pitman, and, after a few forcible andencouraging words to the students, the following honoursand certificates were awarded :--Entrance Scholarships of9125 and 50, to Mr. A. R. Rendle and Mr. E. G. Little ;JE65 Scholarship for Oxford and Cambridge men, to Mr. G.E. Hale, of Cambridge ; the Johnson Prize in Anatomy, toMr. H. A. Hinge ; the Pollock Prize in Physiology, to Mr.N. Elrington ; the Acland Prize in Clinical Medicine, toMr. W. K. Fyffe ; Sir Charles Clarke’s Prize, to Mr. F. Jaffrey.Mr. H. S. Barkworth obtained the Brackenbury Prize inSurgery, the Thompson Medal, and the Treasurer’s Prize.The General Proficiency Prizes were obtained by Messrs.R. M. Walford and R. G. Turner. In the evening theannual dinner of the Medical School was held at theMétrôpole, under the presidency of Dr. A. T. H. Waters ofLiverpool. In proposing the toast of the Medical School,the Chairman laid great stress on the want of additionalspace both for the school and the hospital, a suggestionwhich apparently met with the unanimous approval of thecompany present.Guy’s.-The winter session at Guy’s Hospital opened with

the first meeting of the Physical Society on Tuesday,Oct. lst, at 8 P.M. Dr. Samuel Wilks occupied the chairand inaugurated the meeting with a kindly welcome to thenew students of the hospital and a short address to the pastand present Guy’s men who formed a large portion of theaudience. Dr. Barrs of Leeds then read a paper on

" SomeRecent Changes in Medical Education," which was wellreceived ; and the proceedings terminated with a vote ofthanks to the chairman. Tea and coffee were provided, andthere was a fine exhibition of photographs, pathologicaldrawings, microscopic sections, and surgical instruments inthe large rooms of the student’s club.

King’s College.-About seventy past students of King’sCollege dined together on Tuesday, Oct. 1st, at Limmer’sHotel, Conduit-street, under the presidency of Dr. JohnWalters of Reigate. A very pleasant reunion took place,and the speeches of the chairman, Mr. T. H. Cheatle ofBurford, Oxon., Mr. John Teale of Scarborough, and Dr.Gage Brown, C. M. G., were full of reminiscences of old King’sCollege teachers and students. The Principal, Dr. Wace,replied to the toast of the King’s College Medical Schooland Hospital, and the Dean, Dr. Curnow, proposed the healthof Sir A. Rollit, LL.D., M.P., as the lecturer of the day.The London.-On Tuesday, Oct. lst, at 7 P.M., close

upon two hundred old London Hospital men sat downto a substantial and well-served repast in the new libraryof the Medical College. Dr. Langdon Down, the seniorphysician to the hospital, presided, and was supportedby Jonathan Hutchinson, Esq., F.R.S., President of theRoyal College of Surgeons; F. C. Carr-Gomm, Esq.,chairman of the Hospital Committee; Professor GeorgeBuchanan, Glasgow; and many other colleagues andfriends. After the usual loyal toasts, "Prosperity to theCollege " was proposed by the chairman, and respondedto in a humorous speech by Mr. Rivington, who com-pared the present state of the College with that of thirtyyears ago. Mr. Hutchinson proposed the health of his

friend and fellow-student, the chairman. During the dinnera telegram was received from Sir Andrew Clark, conveyinghis sorrow at being unable to be present owing to indis-position, and great regret was expressed by all at his un-avoidable absence. The "Health of the Visitors" was

proposed by Mr. Frederick Treves, and replied to by Pro-fessor Buchanan and Mr. Carr-Gomm. During and afterthe dinner, which was provided and served by Mr. Holland,the manager of the Students’ Club, instrumental and vocalmusic was provided by Mr. T. Lawler. Dr. StephenMackenzie, Mr. Rivington, and Mr. Openshaw acted assecretaries on the occasion. Shortly after 11 o’clock thecompany separated, after an extremely enjoyable evening.

cMMy.—The session was opened on Wednesday,in the presence of a majority of the staff and of a largenumber of students and friends, Professor AlexanderMacAlister, F.R.S., of Cambridge, occupying the chair.After the dean of the school (Dr. Donkin) had presentedhis report, which gave a satisfactory account of thegeneral condition of the school, and especially of thesuccesses of the Westminster men at the various examina-tions, Dr. P. S. Abraham (Lecturer in Physiology) wascalled upon to deliver the inaugural address. The schoolprizes were then awarded by the chairman. The prize-men included Mr. A. S. G. Bell (Treasurer’s Prize), Mr.W. H. Tebbs (President’s Prize), Mr. Yearsley (Bird Prize),Mr. Llewelyn Lewis (Clinical Medicine Prize), and Messrs.Stonham, Byles, G. A. S. Bell, Garrard, Tebbs, Harrison,Brice, A. S. G. Bell, Yearsley, and others (various classprizes and certificates). Professor MacAlister then madesome appropriate remarks, and congratulated the schoolupon its excellent results. In the evening, the staff,several of the governors of the hospital, and many ofthe past and present students of the hospital, dinedtogether at the Holborn Restaurant, Dr. Dupre, F.R.S.,being in the chair. The toast of the evening, the " West-minster Hospital Medical School," was proposed by ProfessorMacAlister, and other toasts were spoken to by the chairman,Dr. Allchin, Mr. Cowell, Dr. Sturges, Dr. Donkin, Mr.Macnamara, the Rev. Mr. Jones, the Rev. Mr. Echalaz,Dr. Pearse, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Sharman, and others. Theproceedings were enlivened by a programme of musicrendered by some of the students.

THE SANITARY CONGRESS.

THIS institute resumed its deliberations in congress aliWorcester on Thursday, Sept. 26th, at the Guildhall, thepresident, Mr. G. W. Hastings, M. P., in the chair.

The prophylaxis of diseases.-Sir Douglas Galton, K.C.B.:>D.C.L., LL.D., F.R.S., in presence of a large audience,delivered an address on the subject of certain groups ofdiseases which were amenable to the control of preventivemeasures. These diseases were small-pox, typhus, entericfever, scarlatina, measles, whooping-cough, diphtheria,cholera, and phthisis. They were now able to point withunerring certainty to the fact that, given certain conditionsof impure air, impure water, and a soil saturated withfilth, sickness and death from one or other of these pre-ventable diseases would ensue. Commencing with small-pox, the lecturer said that, through vaccination andrevaccination, that disease had been almost entirelyoblitera.ted in the German army, and largely in Germancities. But in England we have not been so careful inenforcing either vaccination or revaccination, and wehave suffered, even in recent years, from severe small-poxepidemics. Typhus fever, which was a common and veryfatal disease at the beginning of the century, was essentiallyassociated with overcrowding and destitution. It usedto be the inhabitant of our gaols, under the name of"gaol fever," which was of so infectious a character thaton more than one occasion the judge, the jury, and thebar caught the fever from the prisoners in the court.

Typhus was essentially the disease of the pauper and!badly housed elements of the community, but whereverit prevailed it might be caught by those around who were’within the sphere of its influence. Scarlatina had no-

such relation to water-supply and drainage as had those-other preventable diseases of which enteric fever is a typeRecent investigations appeared to make it certain that thecow suffered from a disease of the nature of scarlatina,