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The week’s mortality from all causes in Bombay was 1326, t]as compared with 1484 in the previous week; and the returns e

for the whole Presidency since the outbreak of the plague t:

up to the 6th inst. amount to 14,856 cases and 12,204 e

deaths. v

The Secretary of State for India has received an official s

telegram from the Governor of Bombay of a decidedly satis- t

factory character. The Plague Committee in Bombay, says tLord Sandhurst, are working well and successfully. In spite of c

the opposition of the natives to the organisation of hospital s

work, the cases in Bandra, Coorla, and the Thana district 1have diminished in number. The number of persons who i

have been inoculated is not precisely known, but it is not i

less than 2790. The result of Dr. Yersin’s treatment is not l

yet stated, i

It will be remembered that many persons were disposed to athink that there was some connexion between the outbreak of plague and the storage of grain, and Surgeon-Colonel Waters some time ago gave an interesting account of his researches into (

the origin of plague, in which he adverted to the rat murrain that had been noticed in several of the outbreaks of bubonic c

disease and to the plausible hypothesis that the diseasemight be connected with something affecting the granaries and the storage of the cheaper varieties of grain and millet. Mr. Hankin reports, however, that he has examined a large number of specimens of grain andflour under various conditions, but has been unableto detect the plague microbe in any of them, andthat his examination of weevils and of other parasiticinsects has also been with negative results. M. Haffkinehas been busily occupied in developing a prophylactic andantitoxic serum. It is yet too early to pronounce anyopinion on their efficacy, but the antitoxic curative serumhas already been tried in many cases of plague in theArthur-road Infectious Disease Hospital, Bombay, and in theByculla gaol with, so far, promising results. Dr. Yersin, whowas one of the first observers of the plague microbe in Chinain 1894, and who has worked on the subject in that countryand subsequently at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, has pre-pared a stock of antitoxic serum, and we shall soon knowwhether the results obtained in India are confirmatory ofthose which Dr. Yersin and others obtained in China.Dr. Yersin’s presence in Bombay is attributable to someextent to Lord Lister’s influence and to the highly favourableopinion he had formed of the antitoxin treatment of plague.

CONVESAZIONE AT ST. GEORGE’SHOSPITAL.

A VERY largely attended conversazione organised by the 1staff of St. George’s Hospital was held in the medical schoolon March 13th. The guests were received by the senior physician (Dr. Cavafy), the senior surgeon (Mr. Pick), and ’ 1the dean (Dr. Isambard Owen). In the museum and the newly opened laboratories were a number of most interestingexhibits, and in the dean’s room a collection of school records,including a number of relics of John Hunter, various lettersfrom him, and his ticket of admission as a student. In themuseum there were a number of recently added specimensprepared by the formalin method, described by Kanthackand Shaw at the Pathological Society on Nov. 3rd, 1896,which retained their colour, we had almost said, ina life-like fashion. These specimens were preparedand exhibited by Dr. Cyril Ogle. Dr. Patrick Mansonshowed a very complete series of slides illustrating the life-history of the malaria parasite, the same slides from whichthe drawings were taken to illustrate Dr. Manson’s Goul-stonian Lecture delivered before the Royal College ofPhysicians of London and published in THE LANCET ofMarch 14th, 21st, and 28th, 1896.Mr. Clinton Dent showed an interesting collection of

skiagraphs in the small lecture theatre, and Mr. AdamsFrost gave a lantern demonstration of ophthalmoscopicappearances, while in the large theatre Mr. Gardnergave a demonstration of liquid oxygen, and at anotherperiod of the evening, with the assistance of Mr. Cockburn,showed a number of experiments at low temperatures.In the new physiological laboratories Dr. Buckmaster andhis assistants were in charge of various physiologicaland anatomical exhibits. Two specially noteworthy were

the circulation of the blood in the yelk sac of the

embryo trout, where, owing to the absence of any elastictissue, the blood circulated in jerks corresponding to

every beat of the heart, instead of, as in the frog’sweb, running regularly, and a micro-spectroscopic demon-stration of the power of cilia to reduce hæmoglobin,thus illustrating cell respiration. Among the, ana-

tomical specimens were some most exquisite sectionsof the minute anatomy of the nervous system, especiallysome preparations of Purkinje’s cells. In the bacterio-logical laboratories Dr. Slater and Dr. Fison showed variousmethods of bacteriological investigation, together with themethods of serum diagnosis employed by Widal and others.Excellent lantern demonstrations were provided, and themicro-photographic work of Mr. E. J. Spitta was muchadmired ; while in the pathological laboratory Dr. Rollestonexhibited sundry rare pathological conditions illustrated bymicroscopic sections. Among them were an implantatioiacyst, sections of a sarcoma before and aftc-r the injection ofColey’s fluid, and a series of adenomata from various partsof the body.In the lower physiological laboratory Dr. Buckmaster

showed a number of experiments illustrating the faMgue ofmuscle and nerve. This laboratory is fitted with all thenewest appliances, and the recording drums, &c., are drivenby a small water motor.

In the department of anatomy Mr. G. R. Turner showed avery beautiful series of specimens illustrating the develop-ment of the osseous system in the foetus, the specimens of thevertebral column being most notable. The house physiciansand surgeons were indefatigable in conducting numerousparties of visitors over the new operating theatres, built byMr. Percy Adams upon the most modern principles, but theywere so fully described in our issue of Jan. 23rd last that thereis no need to say any more about them here. Along with allthese intellectual delights the weaknesses of our nature wereprovided for by refreshments and tobacco, and entertainmenton a higher plane was provided by the Hemming Quartet,who played in the corridor. Mr. Turner and the otherdemonstrators are entitled to our gratitude for their courtesyand kindness in showing everything there was to be seenand for the trouble they took in explaining the variousexhibits.

__

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONSOF ENGLAND.

AN ordinary meeting of the Council was held on

March llth, the President, Sir WILLIAM MACCORMAC,being in the chair. The Secretary reported the death of Mr. Oliver Pemberton,

member of the Council, and a resolution was carried unani-mously in which the Council recorded their deep regret atthe death of Mr. Oliver Pemberton, whom they highlyesteemed as an able colleague, keenly interested in thewelfare of the College and the advancement of surgicalscience, and in all the relations of life upright, honourable,and true," and expressed "their very sincere sympathy withMrs. Pemberton and her family in their great affiiction."lMr. William H. Bennett and Mr. W. Johnson Walsham

were elected members of the Court of Examiners, andMr. Davies-Colley was elected a member of the Board of Examiners in Dental Surgery.The best thanks of the Council were given to Mr.

Christopher Heath for his Hunterian Oration, and he was.requested to publish it.A letter was read from Mr. J. H. Targett resigning his

appointment as pathological curator. The resignation wasaccepted, but Mr. Targett was requested to continue hisservices for the present. It was referred to the museumcommittee to take steps for the appointment of a successorto Mr. Targett.A requisition was received, signed by thirty Members of

the College, for a meeting of Members to discuss resolutionsrelating to the following points : (1) the result and validityof the recent poll of the Fellows ; (2) a proposal urging theCouncil to take a similar poll of the Members on the ques-tion of the representation of the Members on the Council ;(3) the validity of the present mode of appointment of the

1 We note with very great regret that Mrs. Pemberton herself diedtwo days subsequently.—ED. L.

836

representative of the College on the General Medical Council ; ;and (4) the refusal of the Council to carry out the by-laws lin the case of Mr. R. B. Anderson. The Council resolved that the following reply should be sent: "The Council donot consider it desirable to summon a meeting of the Membersfor the objects specified in the requisition." .

An address of condolence was received from theObstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Berlin on thedeath of Sir T. Spencer Wells, Bart., past President of theCollege. It was resolved that the society should be informedthat the Council gratefully appreciated their kind expressionof sympathy.A letter was read from the President of the Royal Society

asking whether the College would support the followingresolution adopted at a meeting of Presidents of scientificsocieties in London convened to consider whether any, andif so what, steps should be taken to commemorate the sixtiethyear of Her Majesty’s reign, viz. :-" That a fund to be- called the Victoria Research Fund be established, to beadministered by representatives of the various scientificsocieties, for the encouragement of research in all branchesof science." The matter was referred to the President andthe Vice-presidents to reply in sympathy with the objectsproposed.The President took the sense of the Council as to the

propriety of the College taking some steps to celebrate thesixtieth year of Her Majesty’s reign. It was resolved tosend an address of congratulation, and it was referred to thePresident and Vice-presidents to consider and report as

to a suitable method of celebrating the event.A letter was read from Dr. R. R. Rentoul, calling attention

to Clause 5 of the Midwives Registration Bill, and pointingout objections to it. A letter was also read from the MidwivesBill Committee, forwarding a copy of the Bill whichhas been introduced into the House of Commons, and

expressing the hope that the Bill will meet with the approvalof the College. These letters were acknowledged.A report was read from Mr. Walter Rivington respecting

his action as a representative of the College on the CivilRights Defence Committee.A letter was read from the Sanitary Institute inviting the

College to send two delegates to the Congress of the Institute,which will be held at Leeds in September next. Mr. Jessopand Mr. Mayo Robson were appointed delegates.

Public Deaths and Poor Law.LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT.

REPORTS OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF HEALTH.

Chesterfield Urban District.-This district possesses a tern-porary hospital for the isolation of small-pox, but it has asyet no accommodation for ordinary infectious diseases. A

site, however, has been procured, and Dr. Meredith Richardsadvises that one of the hospital committees of the Derby-shire County Council be approached with the view to a sortof joint scheme whereby the interests of the borough andpart of the county may be simultaneously served. The

,Chesterfield Council refuse to supply disinfectants to thepublic for the purpose of "propitiating the germs" by ex-posing small quantities about an infected house; this pro-cedure Dr. Richards points out is not of sufficient import-ance to be carried out at the expense of the town. Theinfantile mortality of Chesterfield during 1896 was 167 per1000 births, and with a view of reducing this heavy tollefforts are being made to procure the services of a skillednurse, who shall visit houses in which births have taken placeand offer hints as to the preparation of infant food, &c.

Nt. -Neots Urban and Rural Distriets.-Mr. Poyntz Wrightis strongly in favour of notification of measles in order thatscholars from invaded houses may be excluded from schooland, if necessary, the schools closed. In this matter ofschool closure Mr. Wright observes that although the childrenc3nnot be prevented from mixing together out of doors therecan be no comparison between the risk of infection out ofdoors and that incurred in the vitiated atmosphere of a schoolwith infected children thereirr. Mr. Wright also drawsattention to the serious risks which are run by young childrenwho are compelled to attend school in inclement weather,

more especially so in rural districts, where long distanceshave often to be traversed, and where consequently theopportunities of getting wet are very considerable. In theurban district the Notification Act has been adopted, butapparently the council have declined to fix a date when theprovisions of the Act are to come into operation. Surelythe council should extricate themselves from this ludicrousposition. In the report upon the Caxton and Arringtonrural district, which is bound up in the same volume as thatrelative to St. Neots, Mr. Wright records an instance inwhich six friends dined together at a restaurant in Oxford-street, eating, amongst other things, oysters. A few hoursafter dinner all six were seized with cramps, vomiting, andpurging, and six days later one of the six was notified assuffering from enteric fever. It is stated that the evidencepointed to the oysters as the cause of the mischief, and thereis no doubt that many cases of severe gastric disturbanceshave at times followed the consumption of oysters, especiallywhen such oysters have been procured from sources liable topollution. As to the source of the enteric fever in the caseabove referred to, it can only be stated that six days is asomewhat short period for the development, recognition, andnotification of this disease.

West Hartlepool Urban -District.-Dr. S. Gourley reports inreference to infantile mortality that in cases where theevidence points to improper feeding as the cause of illnessmuch good may be effected by threatening to refuse a

certificate if the case should end fatally. He also observesthat in West Hartlepool there is a remarkable coincidence tobe noted in the association of bad feeding and insured lives,more especially in connexion with such insurance societies aspay more than the amount of the funeral fees and expenses.We read with interest in connexion with the public abattoirsof this district that during 1896 twenty-one beasts wereseized and condemned for extensive tuberculosis. Six pigsand two sheep were also condemned as unfit for food. Nosettlement has, it appears, yet been come to in the matter ofcompensation for condemned beasts purchased in good faith.

Poole Urban District.-The provisions of the NotificationAct in respect to dual notification are still well carried outin Poole, and Dr. Herbert Lawton tells us that during 1896there were but eight instances in which the householder ornearest relative failed to notify to the medical officer ofhealth. In referring to small-pox and the measures takento control the disease Dr. Lawton observes, " I at once gaveinstruction to the public vaccinator to re-vaccinate." SurelyDr. Lawton is here somewhat anticipating the control which

sanitary authorities may soon have over the machinery ofvaccination.

VITAL STATISTICS.

HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.

IN thirty-three of the largest English towns 6679births and 3919 deaths were registered during the weekending March 13th. The annual rate of mortality in thesetowns, which had been 19’4 and 181 per 1000 in the twopreceding weeks, rose again last week to 18 6. InLondon the rate was 18’4 per 1000, while it averaged18’8 in the thirty-two provincial towns. The lowest ratesin these towns were 12’2 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 12-8 inHuddersfield, 13.8 in Burnley, and 15’1 in West Ham ;the highest rates were 23’3 in Liverpool, 24 in Bristol,25.2 in Salford, and 25-3 in Bolton. The 3919 deaths included334 which were referred to the principal zymotic diseases,against 378 and 331 in the two preceding weeks ; of these,33 resulted from whooping-cough, 79 from measles,72 from diphtheria, 39 from diarrhoea, 38 frcm scarletfever, 22 from "fever" (principally enteric), and 1 from small-pox. No death from any of these diseases was recordedin Norwich or in Newcastle-upon-Tyne ; in the other townsthey caused the lowest death-rates in Brighton, Burnley,and Hull, and the highest rates in Liverpool, Manchester,3alford, and Bolton. The greatest mortality from measlesoccurred in Cardiff, Manchester, Salford, and Bolton; andcrom whooping-cough in Swansea, Leicester, Sunderland,Manchester, and Nottingham. The mortality from scarletrever and from "fever" showed no marked excess in any)f the large towns. The 72 deaths from diphtheria.ncluded 53 in London, 4 in Liverpool, and 3 in Birming-ham. One fatal case of small-pox was registered inLondon, but not one in any other of the thirty-threetowns. There were 30 small-pox patients under