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as against 8 of the previous year. Five people shot them-selves this year ; last year, none. Three people hangedthemselves.

Ann1lal Meeting of tlte La2crentian Sanatorium.The annual general meeting of the Laurentian Society was

held recently in Montreal. Mr. D. Lorne McGibbon, thePresident, occupied the chair.Nov. 7th.

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Obituary.WILLIAM WILFRID WEBB, M.D., C.M. ABERD.,

M.R.C.S. ENG., F.S.A., ILATE MAJOR, INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE. IDr. Wilfrid Webb was a son of Dr. F. C. Webb, physician Ito the Great Northern Hospital and editor of the Medical ’,Times and Gazette. He was born in 1857, and was educatedat King’s College School, at Charing Cross Hospital, and atthe University of Aberdeen. He became L S.A. in 1878, ,M.R.C.S. in 1880, and in April, 1881, he graduated M.B., iiC.M., at Aberdeen, with highest academical honours, beingthe only man in his year to gain this distinctioil. Hegraduated M.D. in 1894. He held the following appoint-ments in London before entering the Indian Medical Service:assistant demonstrator of anatomy and demonstrator of phy-siology at Charing Cross Hospital School, house physician at Ithe Great Northern Hospital, and medical registrar at CharingCross Hospital. In the spring of 1882 he suffered severely fromrheumatic fever, and by the advice of his friends he gave uphis intention to practise as a physician in London. In 1882he obtained the second place in the open competition forcommissions in the Indian Medical Service. At Netley hewas awarded the gold medal for military medicine and theFayrer prize in pathology. Proceeding to India, he servedin the following regiments: 14th Sikhs, 2nd Regiment ofCentral India Horse, 29th Punjab Infantry and Meywar BhilCorps. In the July of 1886 he was seconded for service inthe political department under the Indian Foreign Service,being sent as residency surgeon to the court of H.H. theMaharanah of Udaipur, and thence he was in due coursetransferred to Bikanir. At Bikanir, as at Udaipur, he notonly had charge of the Government medical work, but hewas also superintendent of all the hospitals, dispensaries,and jails in these States and head of the vaccination

department. In 1888 he acted as guardian to H.H. GangaSingh, and he also held charge of the Bikanir PoliticalAgency. His career in India was brought to a close

by another attack of rheumatic fever, and in 1894 hewas placed on permanent half-pay. In 1893 hebecame secretary of the Army Medical School and curatorof the Museum at Netley. There he remained until theabolition of the Army Medical School, when his connexionwith the service was finally severed. While at Netley hecarried on a considerable private practice, and took anactive interest in local affairs. In 1899 in consequence ofthe issue of the Royal Warrant, he was ordered to assumethe title of captain, and in 1900 he was promoted to thetemporary rank of major. During his life he did muchuseful literary work ; he was for about 15 years a

constant contributor to THE LANCET, and for many years hecontributed the article on the Public Services to our Students’Number. He also published a book on the Indian MedicalService in 1890, and a work on " The Currencies of the HinduStates of Rajputana," illustrated by himself. He took greatinterest in biographical, genealogical, and heraldic work, andcontributed many articles to ’’ The Dictionary of National

Biography." On the abolition of the Army Medical Schoolhe went to reside at Berkhamsted. Subsequently he movedto Exeter, where he died on Nov. 18th.

Dr. Wilfrid Webb will be greatly regretted by all whoknew him. The above brief enumeration of the facts of hislife shows that he was a highly gifted man, whose promisingcareer was terribly prejudiced by ill-health.

WILLIAM MILLINGTON, M.D. EDIN., M.R C.P. LoND..CONSULTING PHYSICIAN. WOLVERHAMPTON AND STAFFORDSHIRE

GENERAL HOSPITAL.

ANOTHER link with the past has been severed by the death,on Nov. 5th, of Dr. William Millington. of the Clevelands,

IWolverhampton, at the advanced age of 90 years.Born at Oldbnry in 1821, he began his professional studies

at Guy’s Hospital, London, where he came under the teaching

of Aston Key, Bransby Cooper, Cock, Hilton, and Poland. Heafterwards proceeded to Dublin and to Edinburgh, where hewas clinical assistant to Dr. Robert Christison and Dr.Allison. He tied with the late Sir John Burdon Sandersonfor one of the University distinctions. In 1851 he obtainedthe graduation gold medal for the thesis on the Pathology ofPus in the Blood. Many of the observations upon whichthis essay was based were the outcome of his studiesunder Sir James Y. Simpson, who wrote of his pupil,"He is sure to acquire the very first rank in his pro-fession in whatever part of the world he may settle, forI have seldom seen professional zeal and earnestness morethoroughly combined with extensive professional abilities andinformation." Until the last year of his life he continued totake the same keen interest in pathological and clinicaldetails which had characterised him as a younger man.

Having already enjoyed extensive opportunities for clinicalstudy, he spent the summer of 1843 in Paris, where heattended the hospital practice and teaching of Roux,Lisfranc, and Velpeau. He became a Member of the RoyalCollege of Physicians of London in 1859. In 1852 he waselected honorary physician to the South Staffordshire andWolverhampton Hospital, with which institution he was thusconnected for 60 years. For many years he was indefatigablein his work there, where an enormous number of patientsattended under him, and where his reputation added greatlyto that of the hospital. At the same time he had a largeand extended practice, both private and consulting. He will

chiefly be remembered by many of his patients as a pioneerin the open-air treatment of consumption, of which he wasalways a strenuous advocate. On his retirement from thestaff of the hospital in 1885 he was elected consultingphysician. He was largely instrumental in founding theWolverhampton Eye Infirmary and was a member of themanaging committee.

Dr. Millington was one of the original members of theStaffordshire county council and did valuable work, espe-cially on the health committee of that body. He was aliberal supporter of many charitable and religious insti-tutions.The deceased leaves a widow, who is a sister of Sir Robert

Ball, the professor of astronomy at Cambridge, and of SirCharles Ball, the Regius professor of surgery at the Univer-sity of Dublin, both of whom attended his funeral.

WILLIAM HENRY WEBB, M.D. DuRH., L.R.C.P. LOND.,M.R.C.S. ENG., L.S.A.,

SUR6EON-I.IEUTENANT-COLONEL 2ND BATTALION DEVON REGIMENT (T.F.),V.D.; MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH OF gINGSBRIDGE (DEVON)

URBAN AND RURAL DISTRICTS.

Dr. W. H. Webb died at Thurlestone, Devon, on Nov. 14th,in his fifty-ninth year. The deceased, who received hismedical education at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London,qualified M. R. C. S. Eng. and L S. A. in 1876, ten years later heobtained the L R.C.P. Lond., and graduated M.D. of Durhamin 1893. Dr. Webb joined the late Dr. Cornish in partner-ship at Kingsbridge about 30 years ago, and on the retire-ment of the latter a few years later succeeded to the practice.He was highly respected and esteemed in Kingsbridge andthe district, and had a very extensive practice. He wasmedical officer of health of the Kingsbridge urban and ruraldistricts, honorary surgeon to the Kingsbridge Cottage Hos-pital, medical officer and public vaccinator for the third,fifth, and tenth districts of the Kingsbridge Union, andwas also certifying factory surgeon for the district. He tooka great interest in the Volunteer movement, and was Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel of the 2nd Battalion Devon Regiment(T.F.), V. D. He was a keen worker also in all local mattersconnected with Kingsbridge, and served on several of the

public bodies connected with the town.

DEATHS OF EMINENT FOREIGN MEDICAL MEN.-Thedeaths of the following eminent foreign medical men areannounced :-Dr. Bernhard Fraenkel, formerly honorary pro-fessor of laryngology in the University of Berlin, aged 75. Hisearly professional life was spent in general practice in Berlin.and as a military surgeon during the wars of 1864, 1866,and 1870. Later he held various hospital appointmentsin Berlin and lectured on children’s diseases. He thenestablished a private dispensary for throat and nose cases,and obtained so much reputation for his scientific workin that field that the university took over the dispensaryand made it a university clinic, Dr. Fraenkel being appointed

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professor. This was the first university laryngologicalclinic established in Prussia. His publications are verynumerous and include articles on throat and nose diseasesin Ziemssen’s Handbook and Eulenburg’s Encyclopaedia. Healso edited the Zeitsah’rift fiir Praktisahe Medizin andthe Arahiv fiir Laryngologie: In addition to his purelyscientific work he took a great part in the conduct ofmedical societies and was much esteemed in professional andnon-professional circles, where he will be greatly missed.-Dr. Vincenz Fakala, of Vienna, whose views on the correctionof myopia by operative measures attracted attention someyears ago. His age was 64.-Dr. Louis Harvey Jones,formerly professor of forensic medicine in the Atlanta Collegeof Physicians and Surgeons.-Dr. Hermann Kiefer, formerlyprofessor of medicine in the Ann Arbor University, Michigan.- Dr. Henry Merriman, formerly lecturer on gynaecology inthe Rush Medical College, Chicago.

THE GENERAL COUNCIL OFMEDICAL EDUCATION AND

REGISTRATION.

TUESDAY, Nov. 28TH.THE General Council of Medical Education and Registra-

tion commenced its winter session at its offices, 299, Oxford-street, W., to-day. Sir DONALD MACALISTER, the President,was in the chair.

.lVew Member.Mr. Rutherford John Pye-Smith took his seat as repre-

sentative of the University of Sheffield. He was introducedby Dr. Caton.

The President’s Address.The President, Sir DONALD MACALISTER, then delivered

his address. He said : We miss to-day, with deep regret,the familiar and ever-helpful presence of our general regis-trar, Mr. H. E. Allen. The news of his sudden death onJuly 10th brought a sense of personal loss to every memberof the Council. For 33 years he had been associated with itswork, and had performed the important duties assigned tohim with assiduity and skill. Of those who constituted theCouncil when he entered its service not one is now with us,aud only four remain of those who took part in his firstappointment as general registrar. His great experience inall that related to the Council’s business, his fidelity in carry-ing out its decisions, and his unsparing efforts to promotethe efficiency of its administration, were constantly andgratefully recognised by successive Presidents, treasurers, andother members of the Council. His courteous bearing andhis readiness to be of service impressed all who sought hisaid, whether officially or privately. The spontaneous tributespaid to his memory by those within and without the Councilwhom he had thus assisted and befriended testify to the warmregard in which he was held. The Executive Committee,which naturally had special opportunities of estimating hischaracter and abilities, has placed on the minutes an expres-sion of its appreciation which the Council as a whole willdoubtless endorse with sympathy.

In accordance with the Standing Orders the Executive eCommittee met in July and appointed the Assistant Secretary,Mr. Norman Carew King, to perform temporarily the dutiesof Registrar. With the loyal help of the other members ofthe staff Mr. King, as Acting Registrar, has since carried onthe regular operations of the office. To these has been addedthe onerous and responsible work connected with the recentgeneral election of Direct Representatives, undertaken onbehalf of the English Branch Council. As President I havepaid frequent visits to the office during the recess, and I haveassured myself, as I am now pleased to assure the Council,that its administrative business has been conducted withgreat efficiency and economy under Mr. King’s direction,and that its interests have suffered no detriment during thevacancy in the registrarship.

Certain changes in the membership of the Council havebeen intimated as aotual or imminent. Dr. Cocking, thefirst member appointed by the University of Sheffield, whoseill-health prevented him, to our regret, from attending lastsession, has resigned his seat. In his place the University sendsMr. R. J. Pye-Smith, its Professor of Surgery. He bears a name

that is honourably associated with the profession of medicine,and in particular with the rise and progress of the SheffieldMedical School. Dr. Finlay is about to resign the Regiuschair of medicine in the University of Aberdeen and willretire from the Council next month. Happily, he will con-tinue during the present session to afford us the benefit of hissound and sober counsel, in relation especially to the work ofthe Penal Cases and Examination Committees, to which duringthe past ten years he has rendered much good service. It isannounced that his successor is Professor Theodore Cash,F.R.S., whose eminence as an investigator in the domain ofrational therapeutics will ensure him a welcome. The electionof a representative by the registered practitioners of Scotlandhas resulted in the return of Dr. Norman Walker unopposed.This notable token of approval and confidence on the part ofhis professional brethren in Scotland will give much satis-faction to his colleagues on the Council. In England Dr.Langley Browne and Dr. Latimer have been re-elected, bylarge majorities, for a further term of five years. The Councilis to be congratulated on thus retaining the services of twomembers who have in the past so ably contributed to itspractical efficiency. In pursuance of a recent Order inCouncil, an additional representative was elected at thesame time, to hold office from the beginning of January.The new member is Dr. T. J. Verrall, and the electionshows that he holds a high place in the favour of his fellowpractitioners. He has taken an active part in medicalorganisation and is conversant with the public questionswhich at present engage professional attention. His experi-ence will enable him to contribute a valuable element to ourdiscussions.

Before turning to topics other than personal, let memention the passing of one of the most eminent of ourformer members, the late Sir Samuel Wilks. He sat with usas the representative of the University of London for nineyears, during which he was at the height of his fame asa scientific physician. His strong individuality, his sen-

tentious wisdom, and his downright sincerity of purpose,made an abiding impression on those who then were privi-leged to work with him.The progress through Parliament of the National Insurance

Bill has been watched by your committee with close atten-tion, and occasionally with some perplexity. The proposalsfor its amendment, which you adopted at the last session,were duly communicated to the Government through theLord President; and they were also advocated at personalinterviews with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and otherofficers of the Treasury. The correspondence with theChancellor which ensued has been made public at his

request, and is in your possession. The Chancellor indicatedhis personal agreement with most of the Council’s recom-mendations, and promised that they should have his favour-able consideration when the Bill came to be amended inCommittee of the House of Commons. Copies of the Bill,as amended in Committee, have now been placed before you,in order that you may judge of the extent to which effect hasbeen given to your suggestions. The committee in charge ofthe subject will report on it during the present session of theCouncil, but in the meantime it may be convenient if Iindicate in a few words the position which appears to havebeen reached.

It is now provided that of the Insurance Commissionersfor England "one at least shall be a duly qualified medicalpractitioner who has had personal experience of generalpractice." The Advisory Committee, appointed for the

purpose of giving the Insurance Commissioners advice andassistance in connexion with the making and altering of

regulations, is by law to include duly qualified medicalpractitioners. The Local Health Committee (otherwisecalled the Insurance Committee) of a district may nowconsist of from 40 to 80 members. Of these, two are to beelected by the medical practitioners of the district, and atleast one other member is to be a practitioner appointed bythe Insurance Commissioners. It was pointed out by yourcommittee that in the Bill as originally framed it mighthappen that not more than two practitioners were appointedon a Local Committee of 22. It will be observed that underthe new provisions it is possible that a Local Committee of80 may not include more that three medical practitioners.The Insurance Commissioners have power to appoint a largernumber if they think fit, but they are not obliged to do so.The Council will have to consider whether the minimum