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upon the King’s Norton and Northfield urban district showshow rapid the growth of the population has been in a com-paratively short period, the total estimated population in1907 being 75,508, and by the middle of 1908 it hadincreased to 78,608, whilst the total number of births overdeaths was 1081. The immigration which has taken placehas no doubt been largely due to the provision of trams andcheap houses, a combination of circumstances which hasresulted in the migration of many people from the poorerparts of Birmingham, and which has made Dr. Greenanxious to establish in the interest of his district some pro-vision for the practical education of the mothers. He isanxious to keep down the infantile mortality rate, for, ashe points out, though the births exceeded the deaths andthe number of births was considerably greater in 1908 thanin 1907, still the birth-rate (25 - 54 per 1000) was the lowestrecorded, and the death-rate was 10’ 78 per 1000 as in1907. Dr. Green notes that the male births greatly exceededthe female births, 1015 to 914, and that 76 - 1 per cent. ofthe children were vaccinated, that being 7 per cent. less thanin 1907.June 15th.

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MANCHESTER.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Post-mortem Exa1ninat-ions in Wt7rkhoqtses.SOME discussion, animated if not angry, took place at a

meeting of the Chorlton guardians held on June llth respect-ing a post-mortem examination made a few days beforeon a patient who had died in the Withington workhouse.The patient died, it is stated, from pneumonia acceleratedby delirium tremens," but after his death one of themedical officers suspected typhoid fever, and his col-

league made a post-mortem examination. Before doingso he asked the consent of the patient’s widow, ’’ twodetermine whether typhoid was present or not, as it was aserious matter in a large workhouse." According to thewidow and a sister they were told that unless they consentedto a post-mortem examination there might be a difficultyin regard to the death certificate, and that the coroner

would probably order one to be made. In answer to thecoroner as to why he was named, the medical man in

question said he did it 11 accidentally and in the interestsof the institution," as he thought it ought to be known

definitely whether typhoid fever had been present or not,and, while regretting his action, disclaimed the intention thecoroner had suggested of an attempt to frighten the widow.The coroner said that the proceeding was "not merelyindiscreet but most improper; the case was one whichnever would have come before him," and he required anassurance that such a thing would not occur again. It is aserious thing to question any of the dicta of a constitu-tional authority, but it may be conceived possible thatthe coroner, usually so judicial, may have been undulyangry at something which the medical man did not intend.It is curious that no mention was made at the inquestof the question of typhoid fever, for in that case to theverdict, "Death from natural causes," the jury would nothave added their view that’’ the doctor should be censured." "

This might be called a rider to the verdict, to which the coronerseems to have offered no objection. At a meeting of theChorlton guardians on June llth the matter led to a longdiscussion, one or two of the guardians saying that intimida-tion had been used, that a record ought to be kept of suchcases, and that the medical men held this examinationin their own interest. Another guardian, a woman, saidthat far too many post-mortem examinations were madeat Withington, and no one benefited by this one butthe medical man who made it. "The hospital shouldnot be a practising ground for young doctors." Thechairman protested against such charges being made.Another guardian said that they were absolutely withoutfoundation ; permission was given prior to the name of thecoroner being mentioned but there were objections, andthe medical man explained that if the case went to thecoroner there would probably be an examination. Anyonewho has seen much of workhouse practice will be pre-pared for some discrepancy in the statements of relativesat different times, but it is a pity to see guardians,

presumably of some education, using such wild words ofcondemnation as were indulged in by some of the members,of the board. It is not likely that a medical man, evenif young, would undertake something so unpleasant as a,

post-mortem examination unless he believed that some

increase of knowledge might result which would probablybenefit his fellow men.

Whisky and Saffron in Measles.At an inquest held yesterday by the Manchester coroner,

Mr. Gibson, on the death of a child from pneumonia duringmeasles, the mother said that when she found the child hadmeasles she gave it saffron and whisky. This is a common

proceeding in a certain stratum of the community, and Mr.Gibson told the jury that 99 out of 100 parents gave saffronand whisky and such like things when children had measles.This is a remarkable testimony to the quality of the com-pulsory education bestowed on the children of the nation formore than 30 years. The coroner expressed the hope thatsooner or later people would be educated up to the fact thatmeasles is a particularly fatal disease and that they wouldpay more attention to their children and call in a medicalman when they have this disease. Is this a vain hope, ormay we look in the future for more common sense beinginfused into the education of the coming generation ?

Electrical Dangers.The dangers of our present arrangements for making use

of electricity were alluded to quite recently, but may againbe illustrated by the occurrence in Manchester of a seriousexplosion early yesterday morning. Happily it took placeabout 2.30 A.M., and though sufficiently disastrous, therewas no loss of life. A policeman saw a cloud of black smokecoming from the main entrance of the Victoria Arcade.Before he could get there a heavy report took place, followedby a blinding flash and a sheet of flame which was said to be20 feet high. Simultaneously, the huge revolving iron shutterswhich bar the entrance to the Arcade, and which were closed,were blown out bodily, and a large portion of them wascarried right across the street. Hundreds of windows werewrecked, offices were dismantled, solid concrete from the

pavement was hurled in every direction, and a brick brokethrough a plate-glass window on the opposite side of the road.The whole of the front of a bank was forced out, the floortorn up, and books scattered all over the place. Other

premises were also much injured, the windows wrecked, andfittings badly damaged. Inside the Arcade hundreds of panes.of the lofty glass roof were shattered. The explosion alsowrecked the gas and water mains, and at the entrance "ahole was made fully six yards deep, 14 yards long, and fiveyards wide." The damage, which cannot as yet be accuratelydetermined, is estimated at £5000. If the explosion hadoccurred in the day-time the fatalities would probably havebeen numerous. It was said that the fault occurred at a

point where the service wires laid into the Arcade are joinedon to the distributing cables along St. Mary’s Gate under thefoot-path. The defective joining, which was the primary causeof the disaster, was old, dating from 1896. These old joiningsare being rapidly replaced by improved ones, but unfortu-nately not in time to prevent accident. The first indi-cations of mischief were almost like the precursors of an

earthquake. At 1.45 A.M. the recording instruments pointedto a slight disturbance near Deansgate. The " standby’"men were sent out but could find nothing wrong. About2 A.M. complaints were made from the Victoria Hotel and,several printing offices, but the standby men sent out againcould still find nothing wrong. This little story shows whata terrible power we are using and the absolute need there isfor keeping it under control. We hear far too much of fusedtwires.June 16th.

LIVERPOOL.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Liverpool S’chool of Tropical Medicine; the Expeditions andtheir Work ; Complimentary Dinner.

WITHIN the last few months there have arrived in

Liverpool a number of scientific gentlemen who had beensent out, under various expeditions, to the tropics by theLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Their succesful

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researches and their return were made the occasionon June 14th of an interesting function at the Uni-

versity club, where the gentlemen in question, 12 in

number, were entertained to dinner by Sir Alfred Jones,the chairman of the school. The principal guests wereProfessor Sir Rubert Boyce, Professor Ronald Ross, C.B.,Professor J. L. Todd, Dr. J. 0. W. Barratt, Dr. AntonBreinl, Dr. A. H. Hanley, C. M. G., Dr. Allan Kinghorn, Dr.H. Wolferstan Thomas, Dr. W. Prout, C.M.G., Dr. Warring-ton Yorke, Mr. R. E. Montgomery, and Mr. R. Newstead.A number of prominent citizens were also invited. Before

proposing the toast of "The Expeditions" the chairmanasked the company to honour the memory of two membersof the school-Dr. Walter Myers and Dr. J. EverettDutton-who had lost their lives on expeditions. Thetoast was honoured in silence, all present rising. SirAlfred Jones, in proposing "The Expeditions of the

School," said that Liverpool had done a great deal in settingan example to the world of what might be done to benefitthe tropics. That gathering was representative not only ofBritish students but of students from all countries, andespecially from Canada. In Africa the death-rate hadbeen appreciably reduced by the efforts of the various

expeditions. It was a great satisfaction that othercountries had worked together with them, includingAmerica, France, Germany, and Sweden. Mr. Newstead andProfessor Todd replied to the toast. The toast of I I The

Study of Tropical Medicine " was acknowledged by Dr.J. W. W. Stephens (Walter Myers lecturer in theschool). Sir Edward Evans, in proposing "The Chairman,"said that one of the greatest causes for the benefit of man-kind had been brought to a successful issue. This had beendue very much to the energy and force exhibited on all occa-sions by their host. Sir Rubert Boyce testified to the greatinterest which Sir Alfred Jones took in regard to tropicalmedicine. Professor Ross also spoke to the toast. The

chairman, in responding, remarked that Liverpool oughtto do more for the Tropical School. He had written to the

bishop of the diocese, suggesting that they ought to have a"Tropical School of Medicine Sunday," just as they had aHospital Sunday collection.

William Mitchell Banks Memorial Lecture.The date of the William Mitchell Banks memorial lecture

has been fixed by the council of the University of Liverpoolfor August 4th, at 4 P.M., in the surgical theatre of themedical school. The date is a little unfortunate for obtain-

ing a large audience owing to the holiday season, but it hadto be so arranged to meet the convenience of the lecturer,Dr. Harvey Cushing of Baltimore. Dr. Cushing is associate

professor of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University,Baltimore, and from his distinguished surgical reputationit is anticipated that there will be many in Liverpool desirousof hearing his address.

-Liverpool Hospitals and Civic Grants.The Liverpool finance committee has recommended the

city council to authorise the Parliamentary committee toinclude in its next application to Parliament power to con-tribute a sum not exceeding e5000 towards the erection ofthe new building for the out-patient department of the RoyalInfirmary, subject to the Infirmary committee raising thebalance of the money necessary (probably .E45,000) to com-plete the building. Towards the erection of the out-patientdepartment’of the Royal Southern Hospital the finance com-mittee recommended a contribution by the corporation of£4000.June 15th.

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WALES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Deatli of Mr. Jo7in Henry Williams, MR. C.S’. Eng., L.S.A.THROUGH the death on May 27th, from pneumonia, of

Mr. John Henry Williams, the medical profession in theSwansea district have lost a most agreeable and popularcolleague. He was born in North Wales in 1858 andreceived his medical education at the London Hospital,subsequently practising in Carmarthenshire and in Morriston.About 14 years ago he settled in Aberavon, where he secureda fair share of the medical practice of the district. He tooka great interest in public health matters and was medical

officer of health when practising in Llanybyther, Carmarthen-shire. Entering fully into the municipal life of his adoptedtown, he was elected on the town council of Aberavon in1896 and was mayor in 1901. As a member of the Swanseaport sanitary authority, whose area of administration extendsto Port Talbot and Aberavon, he rendered conspicuousservice. He was on the commission of the peace both forthe county of Glamorgan and for the borough of Aberavon.Mr. Williams had only been married about eight years, andleaves a widow and two children to mourn their loss.

Cardiff Asylum.The great increase in the population of the county of

Glamorgan, which in the ten years ending 1901 was nearly180,000, made it necessary for the county council to insistupon the Cardiff corporation providing separate accommoda-tion apart from the Bridgend Asylum for insane persons whoare chargeable to the CardifE Union. The institution erected

by the corporation for the purpose is situated just outside theboundary of the borough and has accommodation for 750patients, with administrative facilities for 1250. It has been

occupied a little more than a year, and already on the maleside the available accommodation barely suffices for theneeds of the town, although on the female side there arenearly 100 vacant beds. In these circumstances the asylumcommittee is endeavouring to prevail upon the board of

guardians to provide accommodation in the union buildingsfor certain imbecile and epileptic patients, who it is con-sidered might be cared for in a less costly manner than isfound to be possible at the asylum. The weekly cost perpatient at the asylum during the first year of its occupancywas 13s. 5d., but this sum has now been reduced to 13s. 1½d.

The National Library of Wales.In the distribution of the national institutions the Welsh

Museum is to be located in Cardiff and the Welsh Library inAberystwith. At a meeting of the court of governors of theNational Library held on May 29th, and presided over by SirJohn Williams, it was reported that six plans had beenreceived in competition for the proposed buildings which itis intended to erect at a cost of between £70,000 and£80,000. In the plans selected the buildings are arrangedin the form of a quadrangle, the administrative block beingin the centre at the front, flanked on one side by theexhibition hall and on the other by the great library hall.The quadrangle is completed by the book block which isarranged to hold 332,000 volumes. In the library hall anadditional 100,000 books can be arranged within sight of thereaders, while the exhibition hall provides space for theexhibition of rare and interesting books, manuscripts, &c.The administrative block includes council and committeerooms, with rooms for the librarian and the president.

Crime in South Wales and Monmouthshire.For many years past the northern, central, and western

parts of Wales have been remarkable for the absence of crimeamong the inhabitants. In the colliery districts of SouthWales and of Monmouthshire the very reverse has been thecase, and there is rarely an assize held at which one or morerevolting crimes have not to be investigated. At theMonmouth assizes on June 7th a young collier, 24 yearsof age, was sentenced to death for the murder of a farmwoman who was nearly 60 years old. The evidence showedthat he first of all shot her in the face, he then outraged her,and finally cut her throat. In spite of these injuries thewoman was able to walk to a neighbouring farm, whence shewas taken to a hospital, and she lived until May 5th, theattack having been made upon her on Feb. 20th. Theevidence of the county analyst was of interest from the pointof view of medical jurisprudence, for he stated that he haddiscovered on the man’s clothing as well as on that of thewoman certain fibres which had the same characteristicappearances, and that fibres of a similar kind were subse-quently found in the composition of the mat upon which thewoman declared she had been thrown by her assailant.

The Aberdare Medical Officer of Health.The action of the Aberdare urban district council in

attempting to place upon its medical officer of healthduties which should properly be performed either by aveterinary surgeon or by an analyst has already beendiscussed in THE LANCET.1 It will be remembered that the

1 THE LANCET, March 27th, 1909, p. 930.