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not infrequently sought for by parents on the adviceof their private doctor.

In spite of all the progress, there are two or threeconditions and defects for which accommodation is

.sadly needed and most difficult to obtain. The recent

.extension of the Epileptic Colony and School atLingfield is all to the good, but the vast majority of- epileptic children in the country have no provisionmade for them. The same thing is true for the victimsof encephalitis lethargica. This disease has beenstudied very seriously but therapeutic experimentshave yielded little but disappointment. One of the-chief results of experience has been to prove thatmost of those suffering from its after-effects are quiteunsuitable for institutions receiving the insane orthe mentally defective, and yet there is very littleof the special accommodation that they require.Still more hapless, if possible, is the fate of those whohave combined disability, such as paralysis and mentaldefect. They create difficulty in schools for cripples,for the mentally defective, and in residential schools ;while it is pitiable to think of them as entirely ignored.For all these groups it is to be earnestly hoped thatsomething may be done when the reorganisation ofthe poor-law is accomplished.

In the reports of the school medical officers areoften to be found researches on topics of generalmedical interest, such as rickets, dental caries, nutri-tion, the sequelae of encephalitis lethargica, mentaldeficiency, rheumatism, and even such special subjectsas the auditory ossicles. These are summarisedin the report of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board-of Education, and are noted from time to time inour own columns, but they deserve a wider audiencethan they generally receive.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE IN ENGLAND AND

WALES DURING THE WEEK ENDED

DEC. 21sT, 1929.

Notifications.-The following cases of infectiousdisease were notified during the week :-Small-pox,195 (last week 265) ; scarlet fever, 2916 ; diphtheria,1681 ; enteric fever, 31 ; pneumonia, 1077 ; puerperalfever, 35 ; puerperal pyrexia, 114 ; cerebro-spinalfever, 13 ; acute poliomyelitis, 3 ; acute polio-,encephalitis, 4 ; encephalitis lethargica, 15 ; dysentery,5; and ophthalmia neonatorum, 84. No case ofcholera, plague, or typhus fever was notified duringthe week.

The number of cases in the Infectious Hospitals of theMetropolitan Asylums Board on Dec. 24th-25th was as

follows : Small-pox, 367 under treatment, 5 under observa-tion (last week 379 and 8 respectively) ; scarlet fever, 2563 Idiphtheria, 2597 ; enteric fever, 39 ; measles, 614 ; whooping-- cough, 132 ; puerperal fever, 23 (plus 9 babies) ; encephalitis ’,lethargica, 119 ; poliomyelitis, 3 ; " other diseases," 8. AtSt. Margaret’s Hospital there were 12 babies (plus 6 mothers)with ophthalmia neonatorum.

Deaths.-In the aggregate of great towns, includingLondon, there were no deaths from small-pox, 6 (2)from enteric fever, 42 (10) from measles, 10 (1) fromscarlet fever, 18 (2) from whooping-cough, 53 (11)from diphtheria, 42 (9) from diarrhoea and enteritisunder two years, and 67 (10) from influenza. Thefigures in parentheses are those for London itself.

Two of the deaths outside London from enteric fever werein Liverpool and the others in Bootle and Cardiff. Wiganand Manchester both returned 6 deaths from measles, andMerthyr Tydfil, 4. In Liverpool there were 6 deaths fromdiphtheria, and in Bristol and Leeds 3 each. Liverpoolalso reported 6 deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis. Thelargest number of deaths attributed to influenza was inBrighton, where 8 were notified. In Birmingham there were5, in Manchester 4, and in Leeds 3, while Sheffield (last week’6) reported 2.

The number of stillbirths notified during the weekwas 251 (corresponding to a rate of 42 per 1000births), including 32 in London.

Parliamentary Intelligence.HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAY, DEC. 23RD.Pensions and the Seven Years’ Limit.

Mr. BEAUMONT asked the Minister of Pensions the dif-ference between his policy and that of his predecessor withregard to the seven years’ limit for applications.-Mr.F. 0. ROBERTS replied : I would refer the hon. Member tothe statement which I made in the House on Nov. 18th.The primary points of difference in procedure in dealingwith this class of application are that no claim will berejected solely on the ground of the time limit ; that everyapplicant will be invited to state his case and to give evidencein support of it in response to specific inquiries tending toelucidate the claim ; that full consideration (includingmedical examination wherever necessary) will be given toall evidence submitted, and war pensions committees havebeen instructed to consider and investigate complaintsfrom applicants whose claims have been rejected, and toreport specifically on them to the Ministry ; and, finally,that in the determination of all cases of material doubt ordifficulty independent medical experts, nominated by thePresidents of the Royal College of Physicians and the RoyalCollege of Surgeons, will be regularly associated with theMinistry.

Factory Inspection in India.Mr. DAY asked the Secretary of State for India whether

according to the latest information he had, the factoryinspectorate in India had been increased during the previoustwo years ; and if he could give the total present number.-Mr. WEDGWOOD BENN replied : According to the latestinformation available the total of the inspectorate is 48,including nine part-time additional factory inspectors.This represents a reduction of one on the figure for a year

; previously. Tuberculous Milk.

Dr. HASTINGS asked the Minister of Health the averagepercentage of non-designated non-pasteurised milk on saleto the public which contained the living germs of tuber-culosis ; and whether this percentage was increasing ordecreasing.-Miss SusAN LAWRENCE, replied : The averageproportion of milk samples taken by the larger local authori-ties and found to be tuberculous has recently been in theneighbourhood of 8 per cent. The results obtained bydifferent authorities fluctuate considerably, and it wouldbe difficult to say that the percentage for the whole countryis either increasing or decreasing.

Dr. HASTINGS asked the Minister of Health if he couldsay, approximately, what percentage of the milch cows ofthis country were reactors to the tuberculin test ; andwhether this percentage was increasing or decreasing.-Miss SusAN LAWRENCE replied : The number of milch cowsin this country which have been submitted to a tuberculintest is relatively few, and it is not possible therefore to saywhat proportion would react to the test or whether theproportion is increasing or decreasing.

Doctors’ Telephones in Outlying Districts.Mr. RAMSAY asked the Postmaster-General if he was

aware of the conditions which prevailed in the WesternIsles ; and whether he would consider the advisability ofestablishing a telephone in each doctor’s house and school-house, or other convenient centre, in every parish of theseisles, in the interests of the medical, surgical, commercial,and social services.-Mr. H. B. LEES-SMITH replied : Thedistances between parishes in these islands are often greatand the cost of providing telephone services is usuallyprohibitive, but any case in which there is a reasonableprospect of the revenue not falling too far short of theexpenses is sympathetically considered.

Census and Occupational Mortality.Major HILLS asked the Minister of Health: (1) whether it

was proposed to utilise the forthcoming census to provideand publish statistics of occupational mortality in respectof both sexes ; and (2) whether he was aware that, whereas,consequent on the census of 1921, the Registrar-Generalpresented a report, with tabulated statistics, on infantmortality, with reference to the father’s occupation, nosuch report was presented with respect to maternal mor-tality ; and whether, in view of the unduly high rate ofmaternal mortality prevailing, he would consider thepresentation of such a report in connexion with the forth-coming census at an early date after the completion of thetaking of the census.-Miss SusAN LAWRENCE (Parlia-mentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health) replied :The question of compiling, consequent upon the 1931census, statistics of the mortality of married women by

50

reference to the occupation of the husband will be fullyconsidered, though such supplementary tabulations cannotbe undertaken until the completion of the census tabula-tions, which constitute in part the material required fortheir preparation. With regard to the second question,the matter will be very fully considered before the pro-gramme of supplementary tabulations is decided upon.But I may observe that it was not found advisable in 1921to attempt any compilation of the mortality of the femalepopulation by reference to female occupations for thereason, among others, that approximately 10 per cent.only of the female population was returned as gainfully orindustrially occupied.

Thames Floods and Public Health.Sir KINGSLEY WOOD asked the Minister of Health whether

he had any information as to the damage to health andproperty owing to the excessive Thames floods, particularlyat Canning Town and the Tidal Basin areas ; and whetherhe was taking, any steps to consult the West Ham Counciland other authorities with a view to the prevention andmitigation of such floods in the future.-Mr. GREENWOODreplied : I am not aware that there has been any floodingin the Canning Town and Tidal Basin areas during therecent abnormal weather conditions. The town councilof West Ham have special powers with regard to the pre-vention of floods and the responsibility must rest withthem, and with other authorities similarly situated, as tothe extent to which such powers are exercised.

TUESDAY, DEC. 24TH.Purchase of Radium.

Mr. MANDER asked the Minister of Health whether itwas intended to restrict the purchase of radium fromRadium-Belge to one nrm ; and, if so, the reason for thatand for the exclusion of other firms.—Mr. GREENWOODreplied : I would remind the hon. Member that, as hasalready been stated in the House on more than one occa-sion, the Radium Trust are not appointed by me, but areconstituted by Royal Charter. I am not in a position toanticipate any future decision which may be taken by theTrust on the matter referred to in the question.

Review of Service Pension Awards.Sir GEORGE BowYER asked the Minister of Pensions

how many cases of ex-Service men’s pensions had beenreopened, although outside the time limit, during the lastfive months.-Mr. F. 0. ROBERTS replied: About 180fresh awards were made during the period referred to and,in addition, medical treatment was provided in some

60 cases of slight wound.

Regulation of Scottish Charities.Sir GEORGE BERRY asked the Secretary for Scotland

whether he proposed to initiate legislation, applicable toScotland, to provide for the regulation of such charitiesas made an appeal for public support on the lines of theCollecting Charities (Regulation) Bill now before Parlia-ment, and which was applicable to England and Walesonly.-Mr. ADAMSON replied : I am considering the questionof initiating legislation for Scotland on the lines of theCollecting Charities (Regulation) Bill relating to Englandand Wales now before Parliament, but in the present stateof Parliamentary business there would, I fear, be littleprospect of finding time this session for any such legislation.

Health of the Mercantile Marine.Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE asked the President of the

Board of Trade if the committee set up by his predecessora year ago to advise the Board of Trade and the Ministryof Health on matters affecting the health of the mercantilemarine had yet reported ; whether the report would bepublished ; and what action had been, or would be, takento improve the conditions affecting the health of the crewsand passengers concerned.-Mr. W. GRAHAM replied : Thecommittee to which the hon. Member refers was set up toconsider and advise on any questions affecting the healthof the mercantile marine which the Board of Trade or theMinistry of Health might from time to time refer to them.The committee’s advice on the various questions referredto it is submitted to the departments as its considerationof each subject is completed and no general report is pub-lished. The subjects with which the committee has alreadydealt include the Ship Captain’s Medical Guide, which hasbeen revised and issued, the Scales of Medicines and MedicalInstruments and Stores for ships which do not carry surgeons,which also have been revised and issued, and the prepara-tion of a code for facilitating medical consultation at seaby wireless telegraphy. This has been completed andforwarded to the International Code of Signals Committee.The subjects at present under consideration include aninvestigation of the statistics relating to the mortality ofseamen and the hygiene of crew spaces on board ship.

Criminal Lunatics in S"cotland.The Duchess of ATHOLL asked the Secretary for Scotland

the total number of convicted prisoners, Borstal inmates,and criminal lunatics in Scotland for the last three yearsfor which figures were available and the number and per-centage of these who were natives of the Irish Free State.-Mr. ADAMSON replied : The following table gives the infor-mation desired for the years 1926, 1927, 1928, so far asavailable :-

A =Convicted prisoners. B =Borstal inmates.C’=Criminal lunatics.

* The figures include persons born in the Irish Free Stateand Northern Ireland, and also persons born elsewhere ifthe father is Irish. Separate figures for Irish Free Statecases are not available.

Grants for Poor Relief and’Lunacy.Mr. HURD asked the Secretary to the Treasury, in respect

of each of the last five years for which figures were available,what were the sums paid by the Treasury to the county of £Wiltshire by way of grants in aid of local taxation, showingseparately the payments for poor relief and mental hospitals,and other purposes ; and, in respect of the same period,the gross sums paid on these accounts to the counties ofHampshire and Berkshire respectively.-Mr. GREENWOODreplied : The following statement shows the amount ofGovernment grants (excluding grants for capital purposes)received by local authorities in the undermentioned adminis-trative counties in the year ending- March 31st, 1928, dis-tinguishing the purposes for which the grants were paid.The grants shown include, in addition to voted monies,grants out of the local taxation account and out of the roadfund.

PAY-BEDS AT NEWCASTLE.-The governors of theRoyal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-on-Tyne, have decidedto utilise the three main pavilions in the Orthopaedic Hos-pital for pay-beds. The decision is to a certain extent aconsequence of the financial situation of the infirmary, theexpenditure of the last ten months having exceeded theincome by £11,416. The three pavilions will provide over80 beds.

I PROVINCIAL VOLUNTARY HOSPITALS IN 1928.—Thetenth annual report of the Provincial Voluntary Hospitalsof Great Britain for 1928 has just been issued by the CentralBureau of Hospital Information, with a preface by Mr.R. H. P. Orde, the director. The figures show that thein-patients had increased by 45,660 and the out-patientsby 176,896. It is pointed out that, since each out-patientmakes several attendances, these hospital’s dealt with over12,000,000 out-patients in the year. The total amountraised was £9,604,541, an increase of £900,473 ; the totalexpenditure on maintenance and development was 8,190,844leaving a surplus of £1,413,697. The hospitals with acredit balance on their maintenance account numbered598—78.79 per cent. The provincial voluntary hospitalspay about £100,000 a year in rates, and the assessmentsvary from zero to £20 per bed-there is no definite coördinated

principle. The British Hospitals Association is taking suchsteps as lie in its power to have the matter considered bythe proper authorities with a view to, the removal. of theseanomalies. ,