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Heaven." Miss Hare, an old member of the school, who isthe enviable possessor of a charming mezzo-soprano voice,sang songs by Goring Thomas, Brahms, and Loder, and Mr.Godfrey among other songs gave that delightful old Somersetfolk-song in the Dorian mode, "I’m Seventeen come

Sunday." Dr. Phear’s tasteful accompaniment was by nomeans the least important feature of a most pleasantevening.

Parliamentary Intelligence.NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

Lotteries and Indecent Advertisements.THE report of the Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament,

which some months ago investigated the subject of lotteries andindecent advertisements has been issued, along with the evidence,as a Parliamentary Blue-book.

The Withdrawal of the Education Bill.The withdrawal of the Education Bill by the Government, in addition

to the other consequences, removes the opportunity of discussing thequestion of the education grant with reference to the medical inspectionof school children. Before the decision of the Government had beenarrived at the Earl of CREWE stated in the House of Lords that the

subject might be raised on one of the clauses of the Bill.Ilop Substitutes.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER has presented a Bill in the Houseof Commons to prohibit the use of hop substitutes in brewing and theimportation of hops except in bags properly marked. It has been reada first time.

The White Phosphorus Jlatches Prohibition Bill.The White Phosphorus Matches Prohibition Bill has made rapid

progress during the past week. It was considered on report and read athird time in the House of Commons on Thursday, Dec. 3rd. On

Tuesday, Dec. 8th, it received a second reading in the House of Lords.Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act.

Copies of the (1) Public Health (Foreign Meat) (Ireland) Regulations,1908; and (2) Public Health (First Series, Unsound Food) (Ireland)Regulations, 1908, which have been made by the Local GovernmentBoard for Ireland have been presented to the House of Commons andbeen ordered to lie upon the table in the usual manner.

HOUSE OF LORDS.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2ND.

Medical Inspection of School Children.Viscount GALWAY called attention to the fact that no grant had yet

been received by county councils towards the expenses incurred for themedical inspection of school children. He said that a great many localeducation authorities hesitated to put the Act into force until they knewwhat assistance they were likely to get from the Government.Lord BELPER expressed the opinion that when the figures of the

financial proposals of the Government with regard to education wereexamined there would not only be no grant for medical inspection butalso an insufficient grant for other purposes.The Earl of CREWE said that it was clear that the first cost of medical

inspection must fall on the education rate. The question had beenconsidered in connexion with what had been said as to grants onbehalf of the Board of Education by Mr. McKenna when he was Presi-dent of the Board. A White Paper had been issued explaining thefinancial proposals of the Education Bill of 1908. The effect of it wasthat several kinds of grants which were now given to the schoolsshould be amalgamated and only a single grant should be given. Mr.McKenna had made it clear to a deputation that if help was to begiven from central funds for medical inspection it must be givenin a general grant and that it was not the intention of theGovernment to support a special grant for that purpose. Sincethat time, however, the situation had changed and the financialproposals were to form part of the Bill which had been recently intro-duced in the House of Commons in the same way as they formed partof Mr. McKenna’s Bill. This fact made it difficult to enter into anyfinancial details on the present occasion, but he understood that theclause which embodied them would be considered according to theallotment of business in another place on Monday, when the wholesubject would be argued out. When the statement had been made noblelords could, of course, reopen the question as to the adequacy of thegrant to meet this particular charge. It was generally admitted thatmedical inspection if properly carried out must involve a new burdenon the local authorities. On the whole, however, he assured noble lordsthat the Board of Education was fully aware of the importance of thesubject and that it recognised the fact that a very substantial charge Imust be placed on the local authorities by the measure of last year.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 2ND.

The Weir IlospitaL Bequest, Streatham.Sir HENRY KIMBER asked the honourable Member for the Barnstaple

Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether, andwhen, the Charity Commissioners proposed to seal the scheme theywere preparing respecting the diversion of the trust fund bequeathedby the late Mr. Benjamin Weir of Streatham; whether they would

afford the Member for Wandsworth and the inhabitants of Streatham inthe borough of Wandsworth a final opportunity of perusing it before itwas actually sealed ; and whether they would postpone the carryingout of the scheme until such time as the matter could be debated onsome Vote in Supply next session.-Mr. SOARES replied: The Com-missioners propose to seal the scheme on Tuesday next. I will send thehonourable Member a copy of the scheme to-night. The answer to thelast part of the question is that the scheme will be carried out in theordinary course

Pulmonary Corasumptiora amongst Irish Labourers.Mr. FFRENCH asked the President of the Local Government Board

whether he was aware that Irish migratory labourers in numerousinstances, having returned to their homes after harvesting in England,had been found suffering from pulmonary consumption, traceable to thesleeping places called Paddy houses, in which Irish farm labourers werepermitted to be housed in England ; whether he was aware that thesehouses were dark unventilated barns, in which the men had to sleepin coarse bags on the floor; and whether the sanitary authority couldcompel English farmers to give proper sleeping accommodationto their labourers; and, if so, would he see that the law wasput in force.-Mr. BURNS furnished the following written reply:I am not in possession of any information to show that pulmonaryconsumption amongst Irish labourers has been caused in the waysuggested. At the same time, I am aware that the temporary accom-modation provided for migratory labourers, such as navvies, hop-pickers,strawberry and vegetable pickers, is not infrequently used for thoseengaged in harvesting, and that this accommodation is often unsatis-factory, though it is tending to improve. One of the medical inspectorsof the Local Government Board is, by my direction, now engaged ininvestigating the conditions under which migratory labourers arehoused. A report which he has already made with regard to hop-pickers has led to action being taken by the local authorities, and I amshortly expecting a further report from him in relation to otherbranches of the subject, which will, I believe, contain some definiterecommendations with regard to the matter.

THURSDAY, DEC. 3RD.Poisons and Pharrrracy Bill.

Mr. H. SAMUEL, in moving the second reading of the Poisons andPharmacy Bill, said that Clause 1 of the measure brought up to datethe Schedule of Poisons contained in the Pharmacy Act, 1868, in thelight of the knowledge acquired in the last 40 years. Clause 2 dealtwith regulations for the sale of sheep-dips, weed-killers, and poisonoussubstances for the destruction of insect pests met with in agriculturaland horticultural operations. Clause 3 dealt with companies carryingon the sale of drugs. Since this matter had been before a Joint Com-mittee of both Houses of Parliament, negotiations had taken placebetween the Home Office, chemists, drug stores, and cooperativesocieties, and he was happy to say that agreement had been reached.He would have to move several amendments to the Bill in committee

- in pursuance of this agreement.Mr. F. E. SMITH expressed his satisfaction that a compromise had

been reached but he thought that the right honourable gentlemanshould indicate the effects of the amendments which he would proposein committee.Mr. SAMUEL explained that the effect of the clause as amended would

be that a drug store company must have a duly qualified chemist incharge of the actual dispensing of medicines as under the present law,and, in addition, a superintendent to manage the poisons department ofthe company. If the company had only one shop the superintendentand the dispenser of poisons could be one and the same person, but ifthere was a number of shops there must be a qualified chemist in eachshop to dispense the medicines and at the same time a general managerof the poisons department who was also a qualified chemist. The drugcompanies and chemists agreed on that as a reasonable solution ofthe whole question. The title of "pharmacist" was limited to registeredchemists and druggists, but apart from that the drug store, whichconformed to these conditions, might retain the title of chemist anddruggist.Mr. ASHLEY hoped that under the Bill it might be possible to curtail

the sale of morphine. The insidious drug habit did great harm in thiscountry not only amongst men but amongst women.Mr. H. W. FORSTER welcomed the Bill as he thought that under it

something might be done to restrain the sale of morphine and prepara-tionsofopium. The schedule of the Pharmacy Act of 1868 was repealed anda new schedule containing these substances was substituted for it in thepresent Bill. There was no doubt that the drug habit was on the increase.It was one of the most deplorable diseases to which a man or womancould succumb. In his capacity as a member of a voluntary committeebefore which such cases had been brought he had heard stories ofmisery which had almost brought tears into the eyes of even a hardenedpolitician like himself. He thought everyone ought to feel gratitudefor anything which would make it difficult for people to obtain thesedrugs.

Sir HENRY CRAIK criticised the powers given in Clause 2 to tradesmento sell various poisonous substances used by agriculturists and horti-culturists. Was there any country in which fewer restrictions on thesale of poisons were imposed ? Why should the general health of thecommunity be disregarded and proper scientific precautions not betaken, and this widespread sale of poisonous substances be allowed,because it would be a little more convenient for the farmer to get hissheep (lips and weed killers from the nearest shop ? It was a dangerousrelaxation of the law such as would not be permitted in any othercountry.Mr. B. STRAUS hoped that the Government would make it impossible

for the public to obtain dangerous drugs with the facility which theynow obtained them. At present a patient got the prescription of amedical man for morphine and although it might be years old it washawked about from druggist to druggist long after the illness for whichit was intended had disappeared. The date should be inserted in suchprescriptions and it should be made impossible for a druggist to dispensethem after the lapse of a month. A measure of that kind would be mostpopular with the medical profession and no more useful provision forthe well-being of the people could be passed.

’

Mr. SAMUEL, replying to the debate, said that the question ofmorphine had been raised. The Bill did make a change in the lawin that respect. It took morphine out of Part II. of the schedule of thePharmacy Act of 1868 and put it into Part I. and thereby considerably

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increased the restrictions. The Bill was putting morphine into theeame category as the most deadly poisons now known. Ireland had itsown code of Pharmacy Acts and the Pharmacy Acts now being amendeddid not apply to Ireland at all. Consequently, it was not originallyintended to apply this Bill to Ireland. In response, however, to a

great desire among Irish agriculturists Clause 2 was extended to

Ireland. Clause 3, which dealt with the vexed question of the drugstores, did not apply to Ireland. If, however, he found that there wasa general desire in Ireland to have Clause 3 applied to Ireland heshould only be too happy to take that into consideration.The Bill was read a second time.

White Plaosphorus Ifatches Prohibition Bill.The House considered the White Phosphorus Matches Prohibition

Bill on report.The Earl of RONALDSHAY, in moving the omission of Clause 1, said

that the object of the Bill was to prevent the spread of necrosis. Fromthe very few cases of this disease in the last few years it appeared to bepreventable already. He feared that one result of prohibiting theimportation of white phosphorus matches would be the formation of alarge trust or combine amongst the manufacturers of matches in thiscountry.Mr. GLADSTONE replied that it was true that only a few cases of

necrosis had occurred during the last five years and the immunity hadbeen secured at the expense of very great trouble and continual watch-fulness. They could not say now that the match trade was safe from apossible outbreak of this very dreadful and harmful disease. He didnot see a danger of a combination of match manufacturers being formedas the result of the Bill.The amendment was withdrawn.The Bill subsequently passed through the report stage and was read a

third time.FRIDAY, DEC. 4TH.

The Cost of Medical Izzspeetion of School Children.Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALD asked the President of the Board of Ediica-

tion whether he had received representations from local authoritiesdrawing his attention to the expense of medical inspection provided forby the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act of last year; andwhether any further assistance was to be provided from the Exchequerso as to enable this inspection to be carried on efficiently.-Mr.RUNCIMAN replied (by written answer) : I have already stated thatthere is, in my opinion, the strongest objection to giving special grantsfor specific purposes in connexion with elementary education, butunder the financial proposals in connexion with the Bill now before theHouse local education authorities will receive a large additional grantto assist them in carrying out medical inspection and their other dutiesin respect of elementary education.

TUESDAY, DEC. STBT.A Surgeon-Captaiza and the Territorial Force.

Mr. WATT asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attentionhad been called to the case of Surgeon-Captain James Swanson, late ofthe 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry, whose headquarters were inGlasgow; whether he was aware that this officer had a very dis-tinguished career of 15 years in that regiment; that he in two successiveyears won the challenge shield of Great Britain, and in a third year wassecond for it; that he was on several occasions complimented by hissuperior officers for his excellent work, yet when he expressedwillingness to transfer to the new Territorial Army was not recom-mended in July for transfer to the new force; and would he inquire intothis case and find out why the service was deprived of this officer ?-Mr.HALDANE replied: I have made inquiry into this case. The generalofficer commanding in chief, Scottish command, reports that after fullconsideration of the case he was satisfied that this officer should not betransferred to the Territorial Force.

The Medical Inspection of School Children.Major DuNrrE asked the President of the Board of Education whether

he would, either by legislation, if necessary, or, if not, by administra-tive action, provide the means to enable local education authorities toproceed against parents who wilfully withheld their children frommedical inspection and thereby reduced the effectiveness of Section 13(1) (b) of the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907.-Mr.RUNCIMAN furnished the following written reply: The Board hasreason to believe that the number of children withheld by their parentsfrom medical inspection is inconsiderable, and that as the benefits ofsuch inspection become better known the number will decrease. Atpresent the Board do not consider that any special action on their partis required or is desirable.

The Sale of Food and Drugs Act in Cavan.Mr. VINCENT KENNEDY asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieu-

tenant of Ireland to state for how many years back there was a record ofsamples taken under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act inCavan; for how many counties were similar records kept; what stepswere taken to secure that the results of analysis were scientificallyaccurate; and would he say of the 680 samples submitted in Cavan in1907, how many were analysed by the public analyst and how manybuy deputy.-Mr. BIRRELL (by written answer) replied: The LocalGovernment Board inform me that they are satisfied as to the qualifica-tions of the analyst for county Cavan. There is no official informationas to the other matters referred to in the question.

The Isolation Hospital, Stornoway.Mr. WEIR asked the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that

there was a population of nearly 30,000 in the Island of Lewis, would hestate the extent of the accommodation for cases of infectious disease inthe isolation hospital at Stornoway.-Mr. SINCLAIR wrote in reply: Iam informed that the hospital referred to contains ten beds.

WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9TH.ne Report of the Bradford Anthrax Committee.

Mr. BRIGG asked the Secretary of State for the Home Departmentwhether, in consequence of the report of the Anthrax Committeeof the Bradford Chamber of Commerce, which points to the factthat the germs of anthrax were to be found in blood stainsonly, he could relax any of the regulations now in force forthe sorting and handling of foreign wools and goats’ hair.-Mr.GLADSTONE furnished the following written answer: The investiga-tions of the Anthrax Board are not yet completed, and it will be seen, on

referring to page 9 of their report, that dust is still recognised as a sourceof danger. It would therefore be premature to propose any alterationsin the existing rules at the present time. Relaxations may not prove tobe practicable. -

HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING BILL.The Standing Committee of the House of Commons, which was

charged with the consideration of the Housing and Town PlanningBill, dealt with proposed new clauses on Thursday, Dec. 3rd.

Sir JOHN DICKSON—POYNDER moved the following new clause:-"Every county medical officer of health shall make periodicalreports to the public health and housing committee of the council, andif it appears to the county council from any report of such committeeor medical officer that the Public Health Act, 1875, the Local Govern-ment Act, 1894, the Housing Acts, or any Acts amending or extendingthe same, have not been properly put in force within any county dis-trict to which the report relates, or that any other matter affecting thepublic health of the district requires to be remedied, the county councilmay institute any proceedings and do any act which the council mighthave instituted or done for that purpose, and shall be entitled torecover from the district council in default all such expenses in andabout the said proceeding or act as the county council incur, and arenot recovered from any other person, and have not been incurred inany unsuccessful proceeding." He said that he only moved this newclause for the purpose of getting to know the views and intentions ofthe President of the Local Government Board on this subject. Wouldthe right honourable gentleman include a clause something like thisone in the regulations to be issued under the Bill ? Unless somethingof the kind was provided there would be friction between the countymedical officer of health and the district medical officer. Some suchprovision as he proposed would be most useful.Mr. BURNS said that he understood the honourable baronet moved

the new clause less with the intention of getting it in the Bill than as adirection to the Local Government Board to act, through their regula-tions, generally on the lines laid down in the clause. If it wasintended to embody the clause in the Bill he could certainly not acceptit in its present form. However, as it was put forward to ascertain howthe Local Government Board intended to act in this particular matterhe could tell the honourable baronet that it did not include a numberof matters that might be included. There had been one or twoinstances of none too harmonious relations already when such thingswere concerned. It might happen that both the county council and thedistrict council would refuse to act, and then it ought to be that theLocal Government Board should have power to act on default of thetwo authorities. The Local Government Board intended in its regu-lations to give full scope to what the honourable baronet desired. Therewould be one or two additions to give the superior body more defaultpowers,

Sir JOHN DICKSON-POYNDER said that he was satisfied with theanswer of the President of the Local Government Board, and he there-fore asked leave to withdraw his proposed new clause.The clause was then withdrawn.After further discussion the Committee stage of the Bill was com

pleted and it was ordered to be reported to the House.

!

BOOKS, ETC., RECEIVED.

AMERICAN LARYNGOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION, New York. (Dr. J. E.NEWCOMB, Secretary, 118, West 69th-street, New York City, U.S.A.)

Transactions of the Thirtieth Annual Meeting of the AmericanLaryngological Association held at Montreal, Canada, May llth,12th, and 16th, 1908. Price not stated.

BAILLIÈRE, J. B., ET FILS, 19, Rue Hautefeuille, Paris.Traite des Maladies des Vieillards. Par le Docteur G. Rauzier,Professeur do Pathologie et de Therapeutique Générales à laFaculte de Medecine de Montpellier. Preface de M.le ProfesseurGrasset. Price Fr. 12.

BAILLIÈRE, TINDALL, AND Cox, 8, Henrietta-street, Covent-garden,London, W.C.Handbook for Attendants on the Insane. Fifth edition, revised

’ and enlarged. Thirty-third thousand. Published by the

Authority of the Medico-Psychological Association. Price 2s. 6d.net.

BUTTERWORTH AND Co., 11 and 12, Bell-yard, Temple Bar, London.Responsibility in Law. An Inquiry into the Meaning of Law and

of Responsibility. By R. W. Rankine Wilson, M.A., B.C.L.,LL.D., of Lincoln’s Inn and the Middle Temple, Barrister-at-Law.Price not stated.

CHURCHILL, J. AND A., 7, Great Marlborough-street, London, W.Report of the Prevention of Malaria in Mauritius. By Ronald Ross,D.P.H., F.R.C.S., D.Sc., LL.D., F.R.S., C.B., Professor of TropicalMedicine, University of Liverpool and Liverpool School of TropicalMedicine. Price 5s. net.

COLLINGRIDGE, W. H. AND L., 148 and 149, Aldersgate-street, London,E.C.The Encyclopaedia of Gardening. By T. W. Sanders, F.L.S., F.R.H.S.(Knight of First-class of the Royal Order of Wasa, Sweden), Editorof " Amateur Gardening " and "Farm and Gardening." Thirteenthedition. Price 3s. 6d. net.

CONSTABLE, ARCHIBALD, AND Co., LIMITED, 10, Orange-street, Leicester.square, London, W.C.

Essays, Biographical and Chemical. By Sir William Ramsay,K.C.B., Commandeur de la Legion d’Honneur, Commendatoredella Corona d’Italia, Fellow of the Royal Society, &c. Price7s. 6d. net.

DUCKWORTH AND Co., 3, Henrietta-street, Covent Garden, London,W.C.The Pros and Cons of Vivisection. By Dr. Charles Richet, Pro-

fessor of Physiology in the Faculty of Medicine, Paris. With aPreface by W. D. Halliburton, M.D., LL.D., F.R.S., Professorof Physiology, King’s College, London. Price 2s. 6d. net.