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UNIVERSITY 0F CAMBRIDGE.—The degree ofMaster of Arts is to be conferred on Mr. Frederick GowlandHopkins, B Sc., M.B. Lond., M.R.C.S Eng.. L.R C.P. Lond.,late demonstrator of physiology at Guy’s Hospital, and nowUniversity lecturer in clinical physiology at Cambridge.-Aprize of the value of E20 for the best M.D. thesis presentedduring the academical year by a graduate who has takenhonours in arts has been founded by Mr. R. Horton-Smith,Q.C., in memory of his son. Raymond J. Horton-Smithwas a scholar of St. John’s College, and highly dis-

tinguished himself both at Cambridge and St. Thomas’sHospital. After taking the degrees of M.A. and M.B. he diedlast autumn at the age of 27 years in the height of hisbrilliant promise.-The proposed agreement between the Uni-versity and Addeubrooke’s Hospital, which was approved bythe Governors of the latter last January, is now offered bythe Council of the Senate for adoption by the University.In consideration of an annual contribution of E300 theGovernors will elect the Regius Professor of Physic and the*Professor of Surgery to the staff, and will offer all reason-able facilities for clinical teaching examinations. An advisorycouncil will also be appointed, on which the town, county,and University will each be represented by five governors.If, as seems probable, the arrangement is adopted certaindifficulties of long standing between the two bodies will behappily removed.

LUNACY IN NEW SOUTH WALES.-In the annualreport for 1898 Dr. Eric Sinclair, Inspector-General of theInsane in New South Wales, states that the number of insanepersons under official cognisance on Dec. 31st, 1898, was4073. who were distributed as follows :-3901 (including 53criminals) were in the seven hospitals for insane, 40 were inlicensed houses, 123 were absent on leave under the pro-visions of the Lunacy Act, and nine were in hospitals forthe insane in South Australia. The number on Dec. 31st,1897, was 3957, so that the increase during the yearwas 116. The total increase for the 20 years beginningwith 1679 was 2165, or an average of 108 a year.The estimated population of the colony being 1,346,240,the proportion of insane persons to the population was 1in 330. The hospitals for the insane were overcrowded,and in view of this circumstance, as well as of theannual increase, Dr. Sinclair recommended the providing ofadditional accommodation. The statistical tables showedthat 620 cases were admitted for the first time during theyear, 110 were readmitted, 322 were discharged recovered,39 were discharged relieved, and 246 died. Of the deaths,21 were attributed to epilepsy and convulsions, 45 to

general paralysis, and 27 to pulmonary consumption.

VITAL STATISTICS OF QUEENSLAND.-Accordingto the annual report for 1898, issued by the Registrar-Generalof Queensland, the estimated population of the colony,on Dec. 31st, 1898, was 498,523, and was composed of 9989Chinese, 8589 Pacific Islanders, 3269 Japanese, 358 Javanese,2242 " other Asiatics," and 474,076 " all other nationalities."From this it will be seen that coloured aliens comprise lessthan 5 per cent. of the total population, of which the Chinesecontribute just 2 per cent. The population of the city ofBrisbane within the five-mile radius was 107,840. Therewere 2972 marriages celebrated in 1898, giving a marriage-rate of 6 03 per 1000. The Queensland marriage rate hasbeen declining steadily since 1863, when it was 14’5 per1000- The highest marriage-rate in the Australasiancolonies during 1898 was in Western Australia, where it was9-89 per 1000, as compared with 10 65 per 1000 in 1897.The oldest bride was 60 and the youngest was 15 yearsof age ; in former years, however, there have been instancesof brides aged 13 years. There were only 13,933 births

registered during 1898, which was a smaller number than inany other year of the past decade, and gave a birth-rate of28 3 per 1000. The relative number of illegitimate birthshas increased during the last two years ; in 1894 the ille-

gitimacy rate was 4-52 per 1000, in 1897 it. was 6-02, andin 1898 it was 6 04. The deaths numbered 6243, comprising3771 males and 2472 females, against 3483 males, 1940females, and 5423 persons in 1897. The infant mortality,computed from the ratio of the number of deaths underone year to the number of births, was 11-05 for 1898, and themean for the last decade was 10 61. In the classification ofthe causes of death the three most fatal diseases were phthisis,pneumonia, and enteritis, the proportion per 10.000 of totaldeaths assigned to them being respectively 674, 580, and 545.

Cancer is found to be increasingly prevalent. Among theless usual causes of death nine fatal cases of caisson diseaseare recorded.

FOR the twenty-seventh time, at a meetingof the Rural District Council of the Eastern Division of theCorwen Union, Mr. James Pratchett Drinkwater, M.R.C.S.Eng., L.S.A., was elected medical officer of health.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND :FELLOWSHIP EXAMINATION.—Mr. D. A. Fitzgerald havingpassed the necessary examination has been admitted aFellow of the College. The following gentlemen have passedthe primary part of the examination : Mr. F. H. MoC. C.Crawley, Mr. K. L. G. Gunn, Mr. S. H. Law, Mr. A. Charles,Mr. T. A. Dillon, and Mr. A. H. B. Hartford.

PRESENTATION TO A MEDICAL MAN.-Mr. J. P.Bush of Clifton Park, Clifton, Bristol, who has been appointedchief surgeon of the Princess Christian Hospital, shortly toleave for South Africa, was presented on Feb. 22nd by hisfriends, previously to going & active service, with a

compact case of surgical instruments, the outer case being ofsilver and appropriately inscribed.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE’S LYING-IN HOSPITAL.-TheEarl of Hardwicke presided at the annual meeting ofgovernors of this hospital on Monday, Feb. 26th. Thereport stated that during the year 1150 patients had beendelivered in the hospital and 1011 at their own homes. Thecommittee were receiving into the hospital as patients thewives of soldiers and sailors on active service with the forcesin South Africa. Nearly 50 of these women had been helped.The expenditure had amounted to £4390 7s. 9d. and the ordi-nary income to £3378 19s. 7d. The Prince of Wales’s Fundhad made a grant of .E300 to the hospital and £ 50 to the con-valescent home. The event of the year had been the open-ing of the new nurses’ home by the Duke and Duchess ofYork in July last. The chairman, in moving the adoption ofthe report and accounts, made an urgent appeal for contri-butions towards the Z5000 still needed for the work to thehospital and the new nurses’ home.

Parliamentary Intelligence.NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

New Factory Legislation.THE Home Secretary has made it known that his Bill for the

amendment of the Factory Acts which he hopes shortly to introducewill provide new machinery for bringing into force the special rulesapplicable to dangerous trades, such, for instance, as the earthenwaretrade, and will also deal with the question of arbitration in connexionwith which there has recently been so much difficulty.

The Medical Service of the Royal Navy.In the statement of the First Lord of the Admiralty explanatory

of the Navy Estimates for the year 1900-1901, reference is made toseveral changes which have been effected or are in contempla-tion in connexion with the medical service of the navy. Itis announced that the numbers of Inspectors - General and

Deputy Inspectors - General of Hospitals and Fleets have been

increased and the conditions which are required for pro-motion to these ranks have been modified. The period ofthe course of instruction at Haslar Hospital for Surgeons on

entry has been extended and the award of prizes at the end of eachsession introduced. The number of medical officers allowed to

undergo periods of study at medical schools has been considerablyincreased and the privilege extended to the senior ranks. Anadditional professor has been appointed to the instructing staff at,Haslar in connexion witb the study of diseases of foreign stations.The last paragraph in the statement is perhaps the most important.It announces that medical officers newly entered will in futurebe required to provide themselves only with a pocket-case ofinstruments as all ships bearing medical officers and naval and marinebarracks will be supplied with surgical instruments at the public costwithin the next three years. When Mr. Goschen came to introducethe Navy Estimates in the House of Commons he referred to some ofthese topics and gave the assnrance that the Admiralty are doing whatthey can to give the medical officers in the navy greater opportunitiesfor studying and informing themselves generally with reference tothe progress of medical science, and also to relieve them of burdenswhich seem to the Admiralty to be unjust.

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HOUSB OF COMMONS.

THURSDAY, Fxn. 22ND.

Enlistment for the Royal A Army Medical Corps.Sir WALTER FOSTER asked the Under Secretary of State for War

whether, seeing that no recruit could be enlisted for the Royal ArmyMedical Corps if he was over five feet live inches in height, howeverotherwise eligible he might be, this restriction which prevents enlist-ment of men otherwise eligihle in that branch of the service could beremoved.-Mr. WYNDHAM: The maximum standard for the Corps isfive feet five inches, but a taller man who might for special reasons beeligible would be taken as "specially enlisted."

Nursing Orderliea in South Africa.Sir WALTER FOSTER asked the Under Secretary of State for War if

the number of nursing orderlies employed in field and generalhospitals in South Africa was only one orderly for every seven patients,and if, in the interests of efficiency, it could be increased to one for fivepatients.-Mr. WYNDHAM : The proportion of orderlies to beds is asstated—one to seven-and the Secretary of State is advised that thatis sufficient. In a field hospital the bearer company can supply addi-tional orderlies as soon as an action is over, and as patients are

always transferred as soon as possible to the base hospital the beds arerarely all full. In a general hospital many of the cases are alwaysslight and there is a regular staff of nursing sisters.

Netley Hospital.Captain NORTON asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether

it had been brought to his notice that the dining halls at the Royal’Victoria Hospital, Netley, were supplied with wooden forms withoutany back support, which were unsuitable for invalids ; and if hewould consider the advisability of substituting barrack chairs.--Mr.WYNDHAM: Not long since the opinions of Principal Medical Officersas to the requirements of military hospitals were collected and reportedupon by a committee. The change suggested was not among thoseproposed. The question, will, however, be considered.

Housing of the Working Classes. jMr. CHAPLIN introduced a Bill to amend Part III. of the Housing of i

the Working Classes Act, 1890. He explained that the main provisionof the measure was to enable local authorities to establish or acquire lodging-houses for the working classes outside their respective districtsand that further it simplified procedure under the Act.

FRIDAY, FEB. 23RD. ,

Plague and Famine in India. ’

Lord GEORrE HAMILTON, replying to a question on this subject, said :The numher of deaths in Bombay city from plague during the weekending Feb. 16th was 583. The number for the corresponding week inthe preceding year was 712. As regards the famine the latest estimateof the area affected is now 445,000 square miles and that of the popu-lation affected 61.600,000, as against 550,000 square miles and 49,000,000,which were the figures given by me in answer to a question on the 1stof this month. The number ot persons in receipt of relief is nowabout 4,000,000, as against 3,000,000 in tht corresponding week of 1897.On the other liand, the relief arrangements are more advanced thanthey were in 1897, the people are more ready to accept relief, prices areon the whole less high, and the death-rates in the t’amme districts sofar as yet kno M are lower.

Sanitary Inspectors.On the motion of Mr. PERCY THORNTON a Bill was introduced and

read a first time to amend the law as to the qoalifications and tenureof office of sanitary inspectors and to make other relative provisions.Among other things the Bill gives sanitary inspectors an appeal fromtheir employers to the Local Government Board. .

The Purity of Water-supplies. IMr. CORNWALLIS asked the President of the Local Government Board

if he intended to introduce a Bill this session to safeguard to consumersthe supply ot drinking-water by companh and other-;.-Mr. CHAPLINreplied that he was preparing a Bill upon the subject and had everyhope of introducing it.

Mnvn , v Fuu 26thMONDAY, FEB. 26TH.

Anti Enteric Vaccine.Mr.POWELL WILLAMS,. replying to a question addressed to him by

Sir JAMES FERGUSSON, said that auti-enteric vaccine is ptaced on ùùardall transports proceeding to South Africa.

The Anti- Vivisectionists and Mr. R. E. Lloyd.Mr. WEIR asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if

he would state how often within the last two years the PhysiologicalLaboratory, University College, London, had been visited by the Govern-ment inspector; was he aware that Mr. R. E. Lloyd, B.Sc., in the Journalof Physiology dated Feb. 2nd, refers to experiments which he made upontnree cats and four monkeys, the animals being allowed to linger fortwo months betore death ensued ; would he aecertain whetherthese experiments were made without the use of anaesthetics ;and, if they were, would he say when a certificate enablingMr. Lloyd to dispense with the use of anaesthetics was granted ;and, whether any of these experiments were made in thepresence of a Government inspector.-Sir MATTHEW WHITERIDLEY: The PhJ siological Laboratory at University Collegewas visited bv the Government inspector three times in 1898 and oncein 1899. During the last quarter of 1899 no experimental work wasbeing carried on there. As regards the last three paragraphs of thequestion, I think the article in the Journal of Physiology has been mis-understood. It does not appear that Mr. Lloyd performed any experi-ments on living animals at all, and he refers in the paper only, so far ashis own work is concerned, to microscopical examination of some brainsremoved after death frum animals upon which experiments had beenpreviously made under anæsthetics by a person holding the propercertificates.

The Care of the Teeth.Mr. WEIR asked the Vice-President of the Committee of Council on

Education, having regard to the fact that a large percentage of theyoung men who enlist in Her Majesty’a army are tiuhsequently rejectedon account of bad teeth, would he consider the expediency of

arranging for a fully -qualified dentist to attend periodicallyat each school under tho control of the Council for the

purpose of inspecting the teeth of all lads over the age of 10 so thatthey may be encouraged to take such steps as are neotssary for thepreservation of their teeth.--Sir JOHN GORST: The Committee ofCouncil regard this as a matter for the consideration of local authori-ties and managers of schools, but the suggestion of the hon, membershall be considered.

TUR’-DAY, FKB. 27TH.Cinii Surgeons at the War.

Sir WAITER FOSTER asked the Under-Secretary of State for Warwhether a supplementary list could be placed in the Army List of civilsurgeons employed with the army in South Africa ; and whether a listof the neid hospitals, bearer companie", and general hospitals employeftin South Africa, could be placed in the Army List after the medical officersin the Army List. showing the names of onioers with each hospital orcompany.-Mr. WYNDHAM : It is not the practice to insert the namesof civilians attached to the army in the Army List. It would beexceedingly inconvenient to do so seeing the temporary characterof their engagement.. In regard to the proposal in the second para-graph, the changes constantly in progress following the dispositionof the troops would render it quite impossible to keep such a statementup to date.

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28TH.WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28TH.

The Midwives Bill.The second reading of the Midwives Bill, which stood as the second

order at this sitting of the House, was not reached until after the timefor the discussion of contested business and consequently, when n formalobjection was taken, the order was postponed. If the objection bepersisted in there will be little or no chance of any progress being madewith the Bill this session. Notice of a motion for the re,jection of themeasure has been given by Mr. T. P. O’Connor.

AppointmentsSuccessful applicants for Vacancies, Secretaries of Public Institutions,

and others possessing information suitable for this column, areinvited to forward it to THE LANCET Office, directed to the Sub-Editor, not later than 9 o’clock on the Thursday morning of eachweek, for publication in the next number.

ALEXANDER, T. A., L.R.C.P., L.It.C.S. Irel., has been re-appointedMedical Officer for the Saham Toney Sanitary District of theSwaffham Union.

ALLAN, C. M., M.A., M.D., M.S.Edin., has been appointed PublicVaccinator for the Longton District of the Stoke-upon-Trent Union,vice Alfred Averill.

DuxLoP, THOMAS, M.B., C.M. Edin., D.P.H. Camb., has beenappointed Medical Offictr of Health to the Aldershot UrbanDistrict Council.

ECCLES, H. D.. L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C.S, has been appointed PublicVaccinator forthe District of Manganui, New Zealand.

HEBBLETHWAITE, ALFRED G., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Lond., has beenappointed Public Vaccinator tor Keighley and District,.

LlNES, D. H. E., M.B., Ch.B. Melb., has been appointed AssistantHonse Surgeon to the Hobart General Hospital, Tasmania, viceC. T. Macgowan.

LININGTON W. W., ’F.R.C.S.Eng. has been appointed HonoraryAssistant Medical Officer to the Victoria Hospital, Folkestone.

MERCER. W. B., M.B., C.M. Camb., L R.C.P. Lend., M.R.C.S., D.P.1f.Viet., has been appointed Medical Officer of Health for the Rish-worth Urban Sanitary District, vice H. G. Hine, resigned

MILNER. J., L.R.C.P. Edin., M.R.C.S., has been re-appointed MedicalOfficer for the Bradenham Sanitary District of the SwaffhamUnion.

O’BMEN, D. P., L.R.C.P. Irel.. L.R.C.S., F.R.C.S. Ire!.. has beenappointed Government Medical Officer at Ravenswood, Queensland.

PAUL, L. G., Ph.D.. has been appointed Public Analyst for theborough of Hudderstield.

PORTER. A ti. L.R.C.P.. L.R.C.S. Edin., L.F.P.S. G!n.sg.. has beenxppointed Public Vaccinator for the District of Waihi, NewZealand.

PRIOR, SAMUEL, M.B., C.M. Glasg., has been appointed MedicalOfficer for the Kirkheaton District of the Hudderstield Union, viceD. Robertson, resigned.

RITCHIE, R. H., M.B. Ch.B. Melb., has been appointed Officer ofHealth ior the Borough of Horsham, Victoria, Australia, viceW. J. Cross.

SCARLETT, ELLA CAMPBELL, M.D.Brux., L.M., L.S.A., has beenappointed Assistant Surgeon to the Household of H.M. theEmperor of Korea.

STEEGMANN, EDWARD J., M.B., D.P.H., has been appointed AssistantLecturer on Hygiene and Public Health at St. Mary’s HospitalMedical School, London.

STEELE, H. F., L,R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C.S., has been re-appointedMedical Officer for the Oxborough Sanitary District of theSwaffham Union.

STODDART, F. WALLIS, P.I.C., F.C.S., has been appointed PublicAnalyst to the Radstock Urban District Council.

THOMAS, A. W., L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin., has been re-appointedMedical Officer for the Jgburgh Sanitary District of the SwafthamUnion.

THOMPSON. J., M.B.. B.S., has been appointed Resident Medical Officerto the Perth Publio Hospital, Western Australia.

THORP, C. G., M.B., Ch.M.Edin., has been appointed Resident Surgeonto the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria,Australia.

VICKERS, CHARLES WILLIAM, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Edin., L.S.A., D.P.H.Lond., has been re-appointed Medical Officer of Health for Paignton(Devo’ sliire),

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WArttH, J., M.D. Duh, has been appointed Medical Officer for theLcightun liuziard Union.