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23’ 7 per 1000. The infantile death-rate, which was 109 in thepreceding year, fell during the past year to 88. Dr. Wilsonstates that in his opinion the Notification of Births Actwill have little or no beneficial effect in the rural and smallurban districts, and he has not felt warranted in recom-mending its adoption to any of the district councils for whichhe acts.

NATIONAL UNION OF PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHO-RITIES.-A meeting of the provisional council of theabove union was held on March 26th at the GrandHotel, London, for the purpose of considering the rules ofthe association and the transaction of other business. Thedraft rules prepared by the chairman and the honorary secre-tary, after being carefully considered and in a few respectsamended, were adopted and ordered to be submitted to aconference of the union to be held on May 28th at OaxtonHall, Westminster.

’

THE DEATH OF DR. HENRY COLLIER LECEY.-Mr. H. C. Lecky, M.B., B.Ch., D.P.H. Oxon., who since April,1906, had been in charge of the Brighton bacteriologicallaboratory, died at the Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, onMarch 31st. He was only 30 years of age and since thedeparture from the town of Dr. Arthur Newsholme had beenthe acting medical officer of health. He was one of the sixselected candidates for the position of medical officer ofhealth of Brighton and his death at so early an aga is

exceedingly sad. ’

DEATHS OF EMINENT FOREIGN MEDICAL MEN - The deaths of the following eminent foreign medical men areannounced :-Dr. Gustav von Hiifner, professor of physio-logical chemistry in the University of Tubingen, aged 66years.-Dr. Dudley D. Saunders, formerly professor of medi-

cine and medical jurisprudence in the Memphis HospitalMedical College.-Dr. Daniel B. St. John Roosa, professor ofophthalmology and otology in the New York Post-GraduateMedical School.-Dr. I. P. Mierzêievski, formerly professorof neurology and mental diseases in the Military MedicalAcademy of St. Petersburg.A MEMORIAL TO THE LATE DR. ALFRED LLOYD

OWEN.-In accordance with a very general feeling that somememorial should be erected to the late Dr. Alfred LloydOwen, a small committee was formed to further this object.It was felt that the most fitting place in which to perpetuatehis memory was within the walls of the Royal PortsmouthHospital, in which he took the warmest interest and where his chief work of a public character was done. A tablet in ’,alabaster with Irish green marble border has recently beenplaced in the main corridor of the hospital. The inscriptionreads-

In remembrance ofALFRED LLOYD UWEN, 15 A., M..JJ.

Born Aug 18th, 1845. At Rest July 4th. 1907.Assistant Surgeon 1870-1874. Surgeon 1874-1906.

Consulting Surgeon 1906-1907To this Hospital.

A wise Surgeon. A valued colleague.A follower of all that is good and true.

A man of quick sympathy and high integrity,Beloved by a wide circle of friends,

Whom he attracted by his own capacity for friendship.Fortiter. Fideliter. Feliciter.

This tablet has been erected by his friends who knew and appreciatedhis good qualities.

WORCESTERSHIRE ASSOCIATION FOR THE PRE-VENTION OF CONSUMPTION.-The fifth annual report of theOpen-air Sanatorium at Knightwick, near Worcester, hasbeen issued by the committee. During 1907 82 cases wereunder treatment and the accommodation at the institutionhas been extended considerably. Three new double sheltersand a new dining and recreation room with sliding sides havebeen erected. A new water-supply has been installed, com-prising a river pumping station, settling tanks for 5000 Igallons, and filter. The drainage has been overhauled andnew electric plant installed. It is not surprising that thecommittee is appealing for increased support. Interestingstatistics are given under the heading " Five Years’ Experi-ence," showing that of all the " early " cases treated duringthat period in the sanatorium 90 per cent. are in good healthand 82 per cent. are at work. The medical superintendentgives a full account of the routine treatment ; the Frimleyplan of providing light manual work for selected patients hasbeen employed with benefit. The superintendent states thatdischarged patients often find difficulty in regaining employ-ment on account of their supposed infectivity. It is much to

be regretted if the public are so over-frightened on this pointas to deter patients from incurring the brand" of havingundergone sanatorium treatment.DONATIONS TO HOSPITALS.-The result of

Messrs. Raphael Tuck’s Postcard Chain Competition, by whichamong other institutions hospitals have largely benefited,has now been announced. 50 institutions have receivedprizes, the first six being the Royal United Hospital,Bath (Art prize of the value of .f.1000); Torbay Hospital,Torquay (cheque for £250), Victoria Hospital, Frome (chequefor £100), Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin (Artprize .6100), General Hospital, Chester (cheque for £50), andGreat Ormond-street Hospital, London, W. (cheque for £50).The complete list of prizes can be obtained in pamphletform from Messrs. Raphael Tuck, Moorfields, City, London.LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.-Messrs. J. and A.

Churchill will publish shortly new editions of the follow-ing books. The eighth edition of a Manual of the Practiceof Medicine, by Dr. Frederick Taylor. Besides muchadditional matter a new feature of the book will be theinclusion of skiagrams.-The second edition of a Manual ofOphthalmic Surgery and Medicine, by Mr. W. H. H. Jessop.There will be numerous new illustrations.-The fifth editionof a Short Practice of Midwifery, by Dr. H. Jellett. Thework has been considerably enlarged by the inclusionfor the first time of coloured plates.-The eighth edition ofQualitative Analysis and Practical Chemistry, by Dr. FrankClowes.-Also new works, entitled a Manual for Midwives,by Dr. C. J. N. Longridge of Queen Charlotte’s Hospital andexaminer to the Central Midwives Board. All the 50 illus-trations have been specially drawn for the book.-TheThermal Treatment of Aix-les-Bains, by Dr. H. Forestier,physician to the Bathing Establishment of the Thermal

Hospital, Aix-les-Bains.ROYAL DENTAL HOSPITAL, LEICESTER-SQUARE,

LONDON.-The fiftieth annual general meeting of governorswas held at the hospital on March 26th, the Hon. W. F. D.Smith, M.P., being in the chair. The committee of manage-ment reported that the total number of patients during theyear was 20,643, their attendances being 53,470. and that thetotal amount received for the general maintenance fund wasslightly under that of the previous year-viz., .65146, against.65250. The sums received from King Edward’s Fund, theHospital Sunday Fund, and the Hospital Saturday Fundamounted together to .61002. A legacy of £1000 had beenreceived for the general purposes of the hospital and .f.Z25from the executors of the late Mr. John L. Toole. £1000had also been bequeathed to the hospital by the late Mr.A. J. Woodhouse, formerly a vice-president of the hospital,to found a scholarship in dental surgery to be called the"Alfred James Woodhouse Scholarship." As regardsexpenses the year ended with liabilities to tradesmen of £586and of .f.790 for the instalment of principal and interest dueon the mortgage of .647,400, on which the fixed yearlypayment is .f.2975. The committee earnestly appeals forfunds to discharge these liabilities. The bankers are

Messrs. Barclay and Co., 1, Pall Mall East, S.W.; thetreasurer is Mr. F. A. Bevan, and the secretary isMr. J. F. Pink.

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Parliamentary Intelligence.NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

The Resignation of the Prime Minister.GENERAL sympathy with Sir HENRY CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN was

expressed at Westminster when the announcement was made that hisvery serious illness had necessitated his resignation of the post of PrimeMinister. The event was foreseen, although its formal announcementwas not expected until Parliament should have in the usual courserisen for the Easter vacation. Mr. AsQuiTH has been sent for by HisMAJESTY, who is at Biarritz, and as Parliament could not usefully con-tinue to sit during the rearrangement of ministerial offices bothHouses have adjourned until Tuesday, April 14th.

The Official Directory of Nurses Bill.Lord AMPTHILL has given notice_of his intention to move the rejec-

ion of Lord BALFOUR of BURLEIGH’S Official Directory of Nurses Bill,when the second reading is moved. This, however, will not occuruntil the House of Lords reassembles after the Easter Recess.

Poisons and Pharmacy Bill.The Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament has been

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taking evidence on this Bill, but for the most part it has related tothe sale of dips and insecticides used in agricultural or horticulturaloperations. Mr. JESSE BOOT, managing director of Boots’ Cash

Chemists, appeared as a witness on Thursday, April 2nd. He con-tended that the term chemist" was not a professional but a tradetitle. He, however, expressed himself in favour of including in thePoisons and Pharmacy Bill a provision compelling every limited

liability company dealing in drugs to employ qualified chemists in.every shop or department.

Vivisection (Abnlition) Bill.Mr. HODGE has introduced into the House of Commons a Bill to

provide for the total abolition of vivisection. It was read a first time.

Public Health (Markets in Rural Districts) Bill.A Bill has been introduced into the House of Commons by Mr.

BURNS, the President of the Local Government Board, " to make theprovisions of the Public Health Act, 1875, with respect to the provisionand regulation of markets, applicable in rural districts." It has receiveda first reading as a matter of form.

The Protection of Newly Born Children.Lord ROBERT CECIL intended to present a Bill in the House of

Commons on Monday two provide for the better protection of the livesof new-born children." However, the adjournment of the House

,prevented him from carrying out his intention. The Bill will in all

probability be introduced on the first convenient opportunity.Coroners’ Inquests (Railway Fatalities) Bill.

The text of Sir FRANCIS CHANNING’s Bill to amend the law as tocoroners’ inquests in the case of fatal accidents on railways has nowbeen made public. It was introduced into the House of Commons atthe Beginning of February and is designed to facilitate the attendanceof a representative of the Board of Trade at the inquest.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST.

The Milk-supply of London.Sir FREDERICK BANBURY asked the President of the Local Govern-

ment Board whether he was aware that the medical officer of the Cityof London recently reported in some detail upon the unsatisfactory.condition of the milk supplied within the City, with suggestionsdor preventing the contamination of such milk; whether he hadreceived a copy ot that report with certain representations from thecorporation based thereon; and’."bother he intended dealing with the-subject in his Bill.-Mr. BuBfS replied : I have received a copy of thereport referred to. As I stated in reply to a previous question on this- subject, I trust that the effects of the Bill which I hope to introducewill be to secure more satisfactory control over the milk-supply of thecountry.

Anthrax in Human Beings.Mr. ASHLEY asked the President of the Local Government Board

-whether his attention had been called to the report of the inquest heldin the City Coroner’s Court on March llth on the death of Mary EllenPooley from anthrax ; and whether, having regard to the fact that a- death from anthrax was investigated in the same court on Feb 8thand to the recommendations of the jury, in which the city coronerconcurred, that cases of anthrax ought to be included in the list of.diseases compulsorily notifiable to medical officers of health, he wouldtake steps to give effect to that recommendation.-Mr. BURNSanswered: My attention has been called to the report of this inquest.As I have stated in reply to a question by the honourable Member forthe Ashford Division, it is competent for a sanitary authority, with theconsent of the Local Government Board,;to make cases of anthrax inAmman beings compulsorily notifiable in its district.

Tuberculosis in Ireland.Mr. DEVLIN asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of

’Ireland whether his attention had been called to the prevalence of- .tuberculosis amongst children attending the elementary schools inIreland; whether he had any figures or reports bearing upon thesubject; and whether he would consider the advisability of ordering-an inquiry into this matter, with a view to taking some effectivemeans of mitigating the consequences of the disease amongst thesechildren.-Mr. BIRRELL furnished the following written reply: Myattention has not been specially called to the prevalence of tuberculosisamong school children in Ireland, but I am, of course, aware of theregrettable prevalence of the disease in the country generally, and am- fully alive to the importance of dealing with the subject. The Com-,missioners of National Education have no statistics as to the numberof children affected with tuberculosis. They inform me that theyhave taken what steps they mav to prevent the spread of tuberculosisby the exhibition of notices in the schoolrooms calling attention to thedanger of the disease. The Tuberculosis Prevention (Ireland) Bill,which 4s in course of preparation, will provide for the compulsorynotification of the disease and will contain other provisions for dealingwith the.evil. In view of the proposed legislation a special inquiry into<the case of the school children does not seem to be necessary.

The Ghildrm’s Bill.The adjourned debate on the Children’s Bill was resumed and after

discussion the motion for the second reading was agreed to.

THURSDAY, APRIL 2ND.Meat Inspection.

Captain FABER asked the honourable Member for South Somerset, asrepresenting the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether,-seeing the loss which was now borne by breeders and butchers throughthe frequent slaughtering of fat cattle on account of disease, he could- see his way to recommend substantial compensation to them and also a,uniform system of inspection of meat by qualified men.-Mr. Butsrrs(the President of the Local Government Board) replied: I presume

that the disease referred to in this question is tuberculosis. If so, Iwould point out that the slaughter of animals suffering therefrom isseldom effected at the instance of local authorities ; their duties are inthe main confined to the examination and seizure of unsound meatintended for the food of men, and hence they do not commonly ariseuntil the animal has been slaughtered. I cannot make any promisewith regard to compensation, but I may state that the Local Govern-ment Board has issued more than one circular with a view ofsecuring uniformitv in the methods of inspection and seizure of meat,and they believe that the views expressed in those circulars are usuallyacted upon by local authorities.

A Staffordshire Inquest.Mr. T. F. RICHARDS asked the Secretary of State for the Home

Department whether his attention had been called to the death of aman named David Pearson at Tipton, in Staffordshire. upon whosebody an inquest was held and a verdict returned of death fromnatural causes, accelerated by excessive drinking and exposure;whether he was aware that it was alleged that a noxious drug hadbeen given this man ; whether, in the circumstances, the authoritieshad taken the necessary steps to elicit the true cause of this man’sdeath; and whether he intended to take any steps towards makingfurther inquiries into this case.-Mr. GLADSTONE answered: I have noinformation as to this case save that contained in the newspaper reportwhich the honourable Member has kindly sent me, but I am makinginquiries and will communicate the result to him.

Vivisection and Dog Licences.Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITH asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it

was customary for the authorities of laboratories licensed for vivisec-tion to pay the tax on the dogs which they keep for that purpose; ifso, would he state the number of licences issued by the InlandRevenue to such authorities during the last two years; if it be thefact that no such taxes were paid what was the ground of such exemp-tion ; and whether applications for such exemptions were made inthose cases as provided by Subsection 1 of Section 5 of the Dogs Act of1906.-Mr. RUNCIMAN said in reply : Licence duties are paid on all dogsused for the purposes stated, but no separate record is kept of theprecise number of licences thus issued.

A Mysterious Death.Mr. GULLAND asked the Lord Advocate whether he had made

inquiries into the circumstances attending the recent death of a boy atStranraer, which had been attributed to poisoning due to chocolatesweets eaten by him; and if so. whether the inquiries threw any lighton the cause of death.-Mr. SHAW replied: Full inquiries have beenmade regarding this case. The contents of the boy’s stomach andintestines have been subjected to analysis without the slightesttrace of poison being found. The answer to the second part of thequestion is in the negative.

Meat Inspection in Scottish Bztrghs.Mr. WAIT asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he was aware

that it was the practice of some local authorities in Scotland to let theburgh slaughter-house to yearly tenants, who reimbursed themselvesby the collection of dues trom butchers for the use of the slaughter-house, and that these tenants performe I the duty of meat inspectors;and would he say what control the local authorities had over the yearlytenants of the burgh slaughter-houses to insure the proper discharge oftheir duties as official meat inspectors ; and would the local authoritiesdemand that these tenants should have the qualifications formeat inspectors specified under Recommendations, Meat-B. bythe Royal Commission on Tuberculosis, 1898.-Mr. SINCLAIR replied(by written answer): I am aware that in several burghs theslaughter-house is let to a local butcher who in some instancesreimburses himself by the collection ot dues ; that in one or twoinstances known to the Local Government Board the tenants are under-stood to report diseased or unsound carcasses to the sanitary officials;but that, in the majority of burghs with public slaughter-houses, thesanitary inspector and veterinary surgeon visit daily or at such otherintervals as may be necessary for effective supervision. So far as I amaware the local authorities do not demand that the tenants of theirslaughter-houses shall possess the qualifications specified by the RoyalCommission on Tuberculosis.

Post- Office Medical Officer at Coventry.Mr. Jaws O’CONNOR asked the Posimaster-General whether he was

aware that the medical officer of the post-office at Coventry was about85 years of age and that many of the staff at Coventry attended othermedical men at their own expense, owing to their dissatisfaction withthe medical officer’s treatment; and whether, in view of his advancedage, steps would be taken to appoint another medical officer.-Mr.BUXTOX furnished the following written answer: I am having inquirymade and will communicate the result to the honourable Member.

A Seizure of Food in London.Mr. COURTHOPE asked the President of the Local Government Board

whether a quantity of preserved kidneys imported from America hadbeen seized in the City of London as unfit for human food ; what quan-tity of boric acid or other preservative they contained and what quantityof such preservative per gallon and per pound was considered deleteriousto health; and when the promised regulations dealing with theimportation and sale of unsound food would be issued.-Mr. BURNS(by written answer) replied: The answer, as regards the firstpoint in the question, is in the affirmative. Two sampleswere submitted to the public analyst. In the first case he re-

ported that the fluid in which the kidneys were preserved and thekidneys themselves each contained 21 per cent, of boric acid, whichwas equivalent to 1470 grains per gallon of the fluid and 147 grainsper pound of the kidneys respectively. In the other case theanalyst’s report showed that the kidneys contained 1’46 per cent. ofboric aoid (equivalent to 102’2 grains per pound), whilst the fluidcontained 1’7 per cent. of boric acid (equal to 1190 grains per gallon).The answer, as regards the third point, depends on a number of con-siderations which cannot conveniently be discussed in reply to aquestion. I may, however, say that the presence in imported kidneysof proportions of boric acid so large as those given above is decidedlyobjectionable from the point of view of public health and I amadvised that it is wholly unnecessary. I propose to give specialattention to imported preserved kidneys in the regulations referred

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to in the last part of the question. These regulations are in anadvanced state of preparation.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD.Irish Poor-law Medical Officers.

In the course of the debate on the motion for the second reading ofthe Poor-law (Ireland) Bill.Mr. BIRRELL (Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant) said that next

vear he would do his best to introduce a Bill dealing with the IrishPoor-law administration. He could not assent to the Bill underdiscussion.Mr. HUGH BARRIE urged that the Bill should be read a second time

and sent to a committee. Many of its provisions could be put intooperation at small cost. Under it it would be competent for localauthorities to give grants in aid of sanatoriums for consumptives. Hewas in this connexion glad to acknowledge the work done by theCountess of Aberdeen and by tbe combined efforts of other ladies indifferent parts of Ireland in endeavouring to check the ravages oftuberculosis.Mr. FETHERSTONHAUGH expressed a hope that in their future legisla-

tion the Government would deal with the position and status of Poor-law medical officers in Ireland. The conditions under which they wereappointed were unsatisfactory. The best men were not always securedowing to the very narrow localism which prevailed in many cases. Theconditions under which they served were absolutely fatal to theirposition.The Bill was subsequently rejected by 89 votes to 35.

Coroners’ Inquests Bill.Mr. HIGHAM moved the second reading of the Coroners’ Inquests

Bill. Its purpose is to make the viewing of bodies not compulsory butoptional in the diseretion of the coroner. He contended that in manycases the viewing of the body was not only exceedingly distasteful tothe jury but exposed them to personal risk of infection.Mr. H. SAMUEL (Under Secretary for Home Affairs), in assenting to

the second reading, reserved to the Government the liberty of pro-posing amendments at a later stage if they thought fit, particularly inreference to the proposal that the coroner himself should be exemptfrom the viewing of the body.The second reading was carried by 118 votes to 45.

Overcrowding in Scotland.An elaborate return has been presented to Parliament showing the

housing conditions of the population of Scotland. In it it is notedthat the proportion of the total population living more than two perroom has fallen from 56-57 per cent. in 1861 to 45-68 in 1901; that theproportion living more than three per room has fallen from 33 83 percent. in 1861 to 2291 in 1901; and that the proportion living more thanfour per room has fallen from 18 67 per cent. in 1861 to 9-56 in 1901.

MONDAY, APRIL 6TH.

The Medical Examination of Engine-Drivers.Mr. LONSDALE asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he

had considered the report of Lieutenant-Colonel Yorke that thecollision on the London and North-Western Railway near Athertonstation was due to the debilitated condition of the driver, and to thefact that he was in the last stage of a fatal complaint ; and whether heintended to take any measures to secure the more frequent medicalexamination of engine-drivers.-Mr. LLOYD GEORGE replied I amalready in communication with the principal railway companies on thesubject of the medical examination of engine-drivers, and I am callingtheir special attention to Colonel Yorke’s report on the accident nearAtherton.

Appointments.Successful applicants for vacancies, Secretaries oJ Public Institutions,

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

ALLiN, H. W., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Lond.. has been appointed AssistantMedical Inspector of Schools for the Wells District of Somerset.

BAIRD, HARVEY, M.D., Ch B. Edin., has been appointed AssistantMedical Officer at the Cardiff Mental Hospital.

BROWNE, FRANCIS JAMES, M. B., Ch B. Aberd., has been appointedSurgeon to the Powells Tillery Collieries, Abertillery (Mon.).

CA.LDWELL, M. F., M.B., B.Ch.Irel., has been appointed JuniorAssistant Medical Officer at the Cardiff Mental Hospital.

DOWNES, HAROLD, M.B., L.R.C.P. Edin., has been appointed MedicalSuperintendent to Benenden Sanatorium.

EDWARDS, WILLIAM LLOYD, L.R.C.P. Lond., M.R.C.S., D.P.H. Lond.,has been appointed Assistant Medical Officer of Health and MedicalInspector of School Children by the Barry (Glamorganshire}District Council.

FORDE, T. A. MUNRO, M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P.Lond., has been appointectHonorary Senior Surgeon to the Royal Hospital, Portsmouth.

GRIFFITHS, EVAN JOHN, M.B., Ch.B. Edin., has been appointedMedical Officer for the Inspection of School Children by the Ponty-pridd Education Ccmmittee.

H.EBBLETB.WAITE, A. G., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. Lond., has been appointedHonorary Physician to the Keighley Victoria liospital.