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éclat to the opening of the new library hall, and the RoyalMedical Society, held receptions, both of which were verylargely attended.

In the evening the Tercentenary Banquet was held in theDrill Hall, Forest-road, which had been tastefully decoratedfor the occasion, and was a most brilliant success. TheChancellor presided, and in addition to the university guestsit is stated that 1300 persons were present. Two largegalleries which had been erected for the occasion wereoccupied by ladies, and added much to the beauty andattractiveness of the scene. After dinner the Chancellorread the following telegram which he had received fromHer Majesty the Queen. It was dated Flushing, andshowed that Her Majesty was on the course of her journey :-4’ In congratulating your university on the completion of itsTercentenary, I ask you to welcome the guests who haveassembled to honour the event."The toast list was both a long and attractive one, and it is

probable that on no previous occasion have such a numberof really good speeches been delivered to an Edinburghaudience. The speakers included the Chancellor, Baron dePenedo, M. Pasteur, Lord Rosebery, Lord Provost Harrison,the Lord Bishop of Durham, the Lord Rector (Sir StaffordNorthcote), Sir Lyon Playfair, Count Safli, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford (Prof. Jowett), Prof.Elye, Lord Napier and Ettrick, the Rev. Canon Westcott,Sir Henry J. S. Maine, Prof. Virchow, the Earl of Wemyss,his Excellency J. Russell Lowell, Prof. von Helmholtz, SirFrederick Leighton, Sir John Lubbock, M. de Lesseps, andSir James Stephen. Nothing could exceed the enthusiasmand animation which were displayed throughout the wholeproceedings, which lasted for fully six hours, four at leastbeing occupied with the speeches.On Friday, the 18th, the proceedings commenced with a

breakfast by the Royal College of Surgeons, under the genialpresidency of Dr. Smith. This was followed by one of themost important and interesting meetings of the wholeFestival-viz., a gathering of the students and their friendsin the United Presbyterian Synod Hall. The Lord Rector(Sir Stafford Northcote) occupied the chair, and most interest-ing addresses were given to the students by Mr. RussellLowell, Prof. Beets, M. de Lesseps, M. Pasteur, Prof.Virchow, Prof. von Helmholtz, Count Saffi, Prof. Laveleye,and Lord Reay.In the afternoon a most successful concert was given in

the Music Hall by the University Musical Society, underthe direction of their president and conductor, Prof. SirHerbert Oakeley. The President and Council of the RoyalScottish Academy also held a most enjoyable reception intheir galleries on the Mound.

In the evening the city was illuminated, and there was abrilliant display of fireworks from the Castle Esplanade, thestreets being thronged by many thousands of people.The Festival was brought to a close by a students’

symposium, held in the Drill Hall. The symposium,which was in reality a smoking concert, commenced at11 o’clock. Sir Stafford Northcote occupied the chair,and was supported by most of the professors and distin-guished visitors. Every corner of the building was occu-pied, more than 2000 persons being present. The utmostgood humour and enjoyment prevailed. Sir Stafford Northcote,Sir Alexander Grant, Sir Lyon Playfair, and the Dean of theFaculty made short speeches or told stories. There were many Iexcellent songs, including one of his own composition ad- ’,mirably rendered by Professor Rutherford. The atmosphereof the hall, filled as it was by the fumes of 2000 pipes, ismore easily imagined than described. Not the least pleasingpart of the performance was the admirable behaviour of thestudents and the order which prevailed throughout, not-withstanding that the "wine of the country" was freelycirculating. ,

In our list last week of those connected with Medicineand Surgery on whom the degree of LL. D. was conferred,the following names were omitted :-George William Bal-four, M.D., President of the Royal College of Physicians,Edinburgh; John S. Billings, M.D., Washington, D.C., ’,U.S.A.; John Syer Bristowe, M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.S., St.Thomas’s Hospital, London ; Surgeon-General Thomas ’

Crawford, M.D., Director-General, Army Medical Depart- z,ment W. H. Flower, LL.D., F.R.S., Director of the ’Natural History Department of the British Museum, Lon-don ; Professor Edward Frankland, Normal Schoolof Science,South Kensington Museum; Sir John Watt Reid, K.C.B.,M.D., Director-General, Medical Department, Royal Navy;

M. H. Saxtorph, Professor of Clinical Surgery, University,Copenhagen ; Edward Henry Sieveking, M.D., F.S.A.,F.R.C.P.L., Physician Extraordinary to H. M. the Queen,London. The same degree was also conferred in absentiâon Robert Wilhelm von Bunsen, Professor of Chemistryin the University of Heidelberg; Dr. Samuel Gross,Professor of Surgery in Jefferson College, Philadelphia;Dr. J. Henle, Professor of Anatomy in the University ofGottingen ; and Dr. Joseph Hyrtl, Emeritus Professor ofAnatomy in the University of Vienna.

The following Latin poem is from the pen of a respectedcorrespondent, a distinguished alumnus of the northernUniversity.

AcADEMrE EDINENSI SALUTEN.ACADEMIC EDINENSI SALUTEM.

Grata renascentes Musis curantibus artesLimina! vos tria secla locupletata tropaeisDoetrinea et spoliis cultus civilis honorant !

Namque loci Genius trucidato principe maestusEversisque deum tectis vidaaque MariaRite luit facinus sceleratum, Urbique petentiQais juveni inferias miserando redderet ultorTalia respondit: "Non sic punire nocentesVult nova Religio; sed fisa piamine ChristiSe gerit in pravos lenem ponitque securesVi sine nobilior venturaque rectior ultrix.Patribus hinc curse, curro popularibus estoEmollire animos cultu propriumque per usumProvehere in melius. Sit mens tibi talis, Edina :Conde novas asdes super istis fausta ruinis

Usque recepturas natos constanter alendosArtibus ingenuis, per quos tua fama per orbemProdibit, donee propriam te Pallas honoretAmbigueeque nova telture habeantur Athenx I"

Hos monitus imo sub corde volutat Edina.Conditur ecce ! novo ritu sublime columnisTectum quod Superos petat almos fronte serena,LTnde imbuta bonis eat artibus aptaque pubesTradere, cursores velut, immortalia cultusLumina sectanti. Nunc rite mederier aegrisCorporibus, dare jura reis, ducenteque ChristoCoeticolum in sedem lapsos revocare beatam,Hie labor, hoc opus est tibi clarum, 0 Scotica proles,Ceu patrios, mundi fines habitura supremos.

Quse tam seposita est, quse gens tam barbara, cui nonSit virtus inducta valens cultusque politiPube Caledonia? 1 Q,uae terra, quod sequor, Edina,Pacifera3 vexilla tuae haud videre cohortisIllatura malis leges Begrisque salatem?

Te damnosa dies, 0 Nutrix alma ! relinquetIncolumem; te, etiam post hsec, tria secula matremRite salutabunt meliori prole beatam.Decidet Arturus prius alta sede revulsusEt refiuet montes visura Bodotria segnisQuam nomen laudesque tuse labantur ab orbe.

Public Health and Poor Law.LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.

REPORTS OF INSPECTORS OF THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENTOF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD.

On the General Sanitary Administration of the TynemouthRegistration District, by Dr. BARRY. I-Some short time sincewe drew attention to a number of separate reports whichhad been prepared by Dr. Barry on the eleven sanitarydistricts comprised within the Tynemouth registrationdistrict. These have now been supplemented by a somewhatvoluminous report by the same inspector on such matters asare general to the whole of the districts concerned, andespecially as to the best arrangements which, by combina-tion amongst the several authorities, can be designed forproviding means of isolation for the several districts. Thewhole district covers an area of 38,635 acres, and had in1881 a population of 114,197 persons, living in 17,401 houses.

1 To be had of Messrs. Knight and Co., 90, Fleet-street, E.C. ; Messrs.Shaw and Sons. Fetter-lane ; Messrs. Hadden, Best, and Co., 227, Strand;and Messrs. P. S. King and Son, King-street, Westminster.

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The dwelling accommodation is described in detail, thedefects of the old colliery houses and the improvements inthe modern ones being pointed out; and in a similar way ageneral description covering several pages is given as to thewater-supply, the sewerage and drainage, and the meansof excrement and refuse disposal which obtain in the district.Then follows an elaborate statement, illustrated by a seriesof tables, showing the mortality of the district for a seriesof years, both from general and special causes, the ratesbeing compared with those for London and England andWales. The mortality from scarlatina is very high; indeedtwice as high as that obtaining in the country generally andin the metropolis. The causes of this are fully discussed, and it tis evident that the affection arises to a large extent from theunrestrained personal intercourse which takes place betweenthe healthy and the sick. In mining districts specialfacilities for this intercourse exist by reason of the construc-tion and arrangement of the colliery villages, and apart fromthe personal habits of the people the accommodation givento them is such as to render isolation impossible. Thecottages are, as a rule, in long continuous rows, the methodof water distribution is by means of "’pants" placed here andthere at intervals, and it is a part of the daily life which prevailsfor the women and children to congregate at the pants" bothfrom healthy and infected houses, and there to gossip. Then,again, the custom of inviting children to assemble in the housewhere a companion has lately died, to assist at the funeral ;and on these occasions sitting, in all probability, in the sameroom where the death occurred, and in which in many in-stances other children are lying ill, tends seriously to thespread of the disease. In the large amount of visiting whichgoes on in the colliery villages the children generally accom-pany their mothers, and a special point is made of visitingwhere scarlatina prevails, for it is assumed that it is a diseasewhich all must have sooner or later, and that it is better toget it over whilst one is young. In this way it has come topass that epidemics of terrible severity are brought about atfairly regular intervals. In 1873-74, 549 scarlet fever deathstook place ; in 1878-79, 445 occurred; in 1880 there were 112deaths; and 88 deaths in 1882 seemed to indicate the commencement of another epidemic, the material alone beingrequired in the form of susceptible children, who areperiodically provided by reason of the high birth-rate. An

interesting account is given of a special outbreak of entericfever which was associated with the use of a polluted water-supply ; and an incidence of small-pox in the Walker urbandistrict shows that persons under five years of age, who arenormally more susceptible than others, were when vaccinatedactually the least susceptible of all; whereas, of eight personsknown to be unvaccinated, no less than six were attacked.Then follows a somewhat detailed account of the needs ofthe whole district in the matter of hospital provision. Theprinciples that should be held in view, both as to the amountof accommodation to be provided for joint urban and ruraldistricts, the distances at which the hospitals should beplaced from one another, and certain information as to thepoints that should be held in view in the construction of thebuildings, are given. These points, besides being of localinterest, may be usefully studied by others, having to adviseover wide areas, and the whole report is one that may be re-garded as typical of the method to be employed in layingbefore a combination of sanitary authorities information as tomatters in which they have a joint interest. The report hasevidently been prepared with a good deal of care, andis well illustrated by a series of large lithographs showingthe best divisions of the district for hospital purposes ; thecomparative incidence of small-pox, scarlatina, and feverin the whole district ; the arrangements of dwellings inmodern colliery villages ; the detailed plan of some of thehouses recently erected ; and the faulty conditions of themidden-privies, and the method by which these may mosteasily be corrected. There is a further plan explanatory ofan outbreak of enteric fever at Hazelrigge. We are glad tonote that the report is placed on sale at an almost nominalprice. ------

REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH.

Surbiton (Urban).-Dr. Coleman’s report on the healthcondition of this urban sanitary district during 1883 esti-mates its population at 10,250, or 834 above the number enu-merated in 1881. It is somewhatdoubtful, however, bearing inmind the decline in the number of births, whether the pop ula-tion is not over-estimated. The birth-rate, which was 28 ’3 in

1878, has since steadily declined to 23-0 in 1883. The.death-rate in 1883 was but 10 per 1000, against 14-3, 10-6, and11’8 in the three preceding years. That the annual death-

rate in this district during the seven years 1877-83 has notexceeded 12’2 per 1000, affords satisfactory evidence ofthe sanitary condition of its population. Too much im-

portance, however, should not be attached to the generaldeath-rate of a suburban district like Surbiton. The ex-ceptionally low death-rate, taken in connexion with the lowbirth-rate, affords the strongest proof of the abnormal constitu-tion of the population. The proportion of domestic servants inthe Surbiton population must be unusually high, and thisfact inevitably reduces both the birth-rate and death-rate.Moreover, it is necessary to take into consideration the agedistribution of a population in order to estimate the value ofthe general death-rate as a trustworthy test of health andsanitary condition. Dr. Coleman omits in his report allreference to the ages of the decedents, which is an undoubteddefect in any health report. The most satisfactory featurein the present report is the fact that only 4 deaths duringthe year were referred to the principal zymotic diseases,against 20, 7, and 18 in the three preceding years ; theseincluded 2 from diarrhoea, 1 from scarlet fever, and 1 fromenteric fever. The ventilation of the sewers received, it issaid, considerable attention and improvement during theyear, but no progress had been made in the direction of pro-viding hospital accommodation for the isolation of cases ofinfectious diseases, which is of vital importance in such a,

favourite residential neighbourhood as Surbiton.Sherborne (Rural).-The medical officer of health for the

rural sanitary district of Sherborne (Mr. N. E. Davies) isable to present a most satisfactory report for 1883. In apopulation of 6979 persons 165 births and 106 deaths wereregistered during the year; the birth-rate was equal to 23’6,while the death-rate did not exceed 15’2 per 1000. Only onedeath (a fatal case of whooping-cough) was referred to theprincipal zymotic diseases. The most striking feature of thereturn is the fact that 52 of the 106 deaths were of personsaged upwards of 60 years, including 16 aged more than 80years. The rate of infant mortality was also satisfactorilylow compared with that in other districts, although it mightno doubt be further reduced. Only 12 deaths of infantsunder one year of age were recorded, equal to 7’3 per cent.of the births registered. Notwithstanding the generallyfavourable character of the statistics, the medical officer ofhealth calls attention to the evils of overcrowding and tonuisances from piggeries in many parts of the district. Theexistence of houses unfit for habitation in the villages ofBishop’s Down and Purse Caundle is noticed, as also thedefective nature of the water-supply in some of the parishes.It is evident that the sanitary condition of the district isstill susceptible of further improvement, in spite of its lowdeath-rate.

Aylesbury (Rural).-Dr. Hilliard reports the mortality ofthis district as amounting to 17’1 per 1000 living. Thedistrict has on several occasions been the scene of outbreaksof infectious disease, and during the past year both diphtheriaand so-called" croup" caused five deaths in the AstonClinton sub-district; the disease being associated withfilthy drain, ditch, and cesspool conditions, which have oftenbeen reported on. These are now, we are glad to observe,to a great extent remedied. This district has also for a longtime neglected to avail itself of one of the best water-supplieswhich the country affords, but at last, and owing to thegenerosity of Lady de Rothschild, the excellent service fromthe Chiltern Hills has been so laid along the roads of AstonClinton and Weston villages that it is now available forevery cottage that will take it.Bedford (Urban).-Bedford town had a low death-rate

during 1883-namely, 14’8 per 1000. Diphtheria has forseveral years been very seriously prevalent in and aroundthe borough, and hence Dr. Prior has devoted considerabletime to the study of its etiology; and so far as the town isconcerned, he has received every help from the medical prac-titioners, who have reported all the cases to him as theyhave arisen. Dr. Prior, whose experience now extends overa population of some 80,000 persons scattered over bothurban and rural districts, is strongly convinced that diph-theria never has a so-called spontaneous origin in mereconditions of filth ; and he asserts that he has never yetcome upon any distinct evidence that the disease is so gene-rated, any more than scarlatina, with which it possessescertain curious affinities. So far as Bedford town is con-

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cerned, this disease appears now to be in a quiescent condi-tion, but it caused sixteen deaths last year. Excellentsanitary work is being steadily pursued under Dr. Prior’ssurveillance, and, ag far as it is possible, known conditionsof disease are being dealt with as they are discovered.

Chester (Urban).-Dr. Kenyon gives the death-rate for thep3.st year as 19’2 per 1000. He reports that under thepowers conferred by the Public Health Act there ha beensteady progress in effecting structural alterations in thedrainage of houses ; that advance is being made in the con-version of the old midden-privies into waterclosets ; thatthe sewer ventilation has been greatly improved ; and thatimprovement is being effected in the removal of conditionscalculated to affect health injuriously.Lewes (Urban).-The death-rate for the entire borough

was 14’9 per 1000, but it varied very much in the differentdivisions. Thus, in the low-lying neighbourhood known asCliffe, it reached 22 ’2 per 1000. The population of this localityis, however, comparatively small, and there is some reason tobelieve that the apparent increase may have been mainlydue to the small figures dealt with. In one sense we regretto see a reference to the construction of cesspools, althoughit is in the direction of making them water-tight. WhatLewes needs is such a system of sewerage as would renderthe construction of cesspools unnecessary except in veryoutlying portions of the district. The water-supply remainsexcellent. The infectious hospital has not been used duringthe year, but it is maintained in readiness for use, and itstands there constituting an important feature in thesanitary defences of the borough, which miy at any momentbe called into requisition. Mr. Braden’s record of sanitarywork done during the year shows progress in all the direc-tions where it is needed.

VITAL STATISTICS.

HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.

In twenty-eight of the largest English towns 5818 birthsand 3773 deaths were registered during the week ending the19Gh inst. The annual death-rate in these towns, whichhad been equal to 22’7 and 20’4 per 1000 in the two pre-ceding weeks, rose again to 22’5 last week. During thefirst three weeks of the current quarter, the death-rate inthese towns averaged only 21’9 per 1000, against 23’1 and24’6 in the corresponding periods of 1882 and 1883. Thelowest rates last week were 13 in Derby, 14’8 in Brighton,and 16’1 in Leicester. The rates in the other towns rangedupwards to 28 4 in Leeds, 28’5 in Oldham, 28-6 in Wolver-hampton, and 28’7 both in Manchester and in Bolton. Thedeaths referred to the principal zymotic diseases in the

twenty-eight towns were 544, showing a further increaseupon recent weekly numbers ; they included 189 fromwhooping-cough, 159 from measles, 88 from scarlet fever,40 from "fever" (principally enteric), 37 from diarrhoea, 24from diphtheria, and 17 from small-pox. These zymoticdiseases caused the lowest death-rates last week inHall and in Leicester, and the highest in Liver-pool and in Wolverhampton. The highest death-ratesfrom whooping - cough occurred in B )lton, London,Liverpool, and Manchester; measles in Wolverhampton,Portsmouth, and Nottingham; scarlet fever in Sheffi:jld,Preston, Cardiff, and Leeds; and "fever" in Bradford. Ofthe 21 deaths from diphtheria in the twenty-eight towns,18 occurred in London. Small-pox caused 11 deaths inLondon, 2 both in Liverpool and in Newcastle-upon-Tyne,and 1 both in Wolverhampton and in Sheffield. Thenumber of small-pox patients in the metropolitan asylumhospitals and ho-pital ships, which had rapidly increasedin the four previous weeks from 148 to 355, further rose to405 on Saturday last; 61 new cases were admitted to thesehospitals during last week, against 39 and 92 in the twopreceding weeks. The Higbga.te Small-pox Hospitalcontained 17 patients on Saturday last, 6 new cases

having been admitted during the week. The deaths re-

ferred to diseases of the respiratory organs in London,which had been 357 and 285 in the two previousweeks, rose again to 318 last week, but were 99below the corrected weekly average. The causes of 106,or 2’8 per cent., of the deaths in the twenty-eight townslast week were not certified either by a registered medical

practitioner or by a coroner. All the causes of death wereduly certified in Portsmouth, Leicester, Sunderland, and in

four other smaller towns. The largest proportions of ulcer.tified deaths occurred in Halifax, Oldham, and Sheffield.

HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.

The annual rate of mortality in the eight Scotch towns,which had steadily increased from 20’9 to 25’2 in the fivepreceding weeks, declined again to 23’3 in the week endingthe 19öh inst. ; this rate was, however, 19 9 above the meanrate during the same week in the twenty-eight largeEnglish towns. The rates in the Scotch towns rangedfrom 14 8 and 15’1 in Leith and Perth, to 25’2 in Glasgowand 38 ’3 in Perth. The deaths in the eight towns included96 which were referred to the principal zymotic diseases,against 101 and 103 in the two preceding weeks; 29 resultedfrom whooping-cough, 16 from diphtheria, 16 from measles,15 from diarrhoeal diseases, 12 from scarlet fever, 7 from"fever," and one from small-pox. 1’he rate from thesediseases averaged 4’0 per 1000 in the Scotch towns, andslightly exceeded the rate from the same diseases in the largeEnglish towns. The 29 deaths from whooping-cough in theeight Scotch towns showed a considerable decline fromrecent weekly numbers, and included 15 in Glasgow and6 in Edinburgh. The 16 deaths referred to diphtheriaexceeded the number in either of the two previousweeks; 5 occurred in Aberdeen, 4 in Glasgow, and 4in Greenock. Of the 16 fatal cases of measles, 5 werereturned both in Edinburgh and in Paisley. Sevenof the 12 deaths from scarlet fever, and 4 of the 7 from"fever," were returned in Glasgow. The fatal case ofsmall-pox occurred in Glasgow. The deaths referred to acutediseases of the respiratory organs in the eight towns, whichhad been 112 and 128 in the two previous weeks, declinedto 109 last week, and were 24 below the number returnedin the corresponding week of last year. The causes of 89,or more than 15 per cent., of the deaths in the eight townslast week were not certified.

HEALTH OF DUBLIN.

The rate of mortality in Dublin, which had been equal to29’6 and 23’0 per 1000 in the two preceding weeks, rose

again to 28’7 in the week ending the 19th instant. Duringthe first three weeks of the current quarter the death-rate inthe city averaged 27 ’7 per 1000, whereas it did not exceed20’8 in London and 225 in Edinburgh during the sameperiod. The 193 deaths in Dublin last week showed anincrease of 38 upon the number in the previous week, andincluded 19 which were referred to the principal zymoticdiseases, against 20 and 10 in the two previous weeks;8 resulted from "fever" " (typhus, enteric, or simple),6 from scarlet fever, 2 from diphtheria, 2 from diarrhoea1 from whooping-cough, and not one either from small-poxor measles. These 19 deaths were equal to an annualrate of 2’8 per 1000, the rate from the same diseases being4’1 in London and 3’8 in Edinburgh. The 8 deaths from"fever" exceeded those in the previous week by one; thedeaths from this cause averaged 8 in the first three weeks ofthis quarter, against but 5 in the thirteen weeks of the firstquarter in the year. The 6 fatal cases of scarlet fever alsoshowed an increase ; and the 2 of diphtheria were thefirst recorded since the middle of March. Four of the deathsresulted from violence, and 60 were recorded in public insti.tutions. The 61 deaths of persons aged over sixty yearsexceeded the number in the previous week of this year.The cause" of 25, or nearly 13 per cent., of the deathsregistered during the week were not certified.

PRESTON MORTALITY.

Among the largest English towns Manchester, Liverpool,and Preston are pre-eminent for their excessive rates ofmortality, and contribute in great measure to the highdeath-rate that prevails in Lancashire. The rate in Liver-pool, although comparing favourably with the rates thatformerly prevailed in that city, has been remarkablystationary during the last four years. In Manchester therate has steadily increased during the last three years, not.withstanding the general decline in English urban mortality.As regards Preston, it was only added to the list of largetowns dealt with in the Registrar.General’s weekly return atthe beginning of 1882, since which the high rate of mortalitythat has so long prevailed in that town has attracted moregeneral attention. In 1882 the general death-rate inPreston was higher than in any other town in the Registrar-