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a member of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1843.

Having held the house surgeoncy at the Sussex CountyHospital, Brighton, he went to Portsmouth in 1847, andentered into partnership with the late Dr. Scott, at thattime a leading practitioner. Early in his professionalcareer he became associated with the Royal PortsmouthHospital, being appointed one of the first surgeons,and he took the deepest interest in its affairs up to hisdeath. He was on the active staff for thirty-five years,and on his retirement in 1885 was unanimously electedan honorary consulting surgeon, and subsequently a vice-

resident of the hospital. He was appointed by theLords of the Admiralty the visiting surgeon underthe Contagious Diseases Act of 1866, and it was generallyadmitted that the effectual working of the Act wasdue in a large measure to his tact and judgment.Mr. Parson did not contribute to the literature of his pro-fession, but his opinion was essentially sound, and he waspossessed of much skill as an operating surgeon. But hedid not confine his activity to the work of his profession ;his aid and advice were, indeed, in constant request, andwere freely sought, and readily given to any good cause. Hewas for many years a magistrate for Portsmouth, and wasassociated with many of the public companies of thatborough. In politics he was a Liberal, being at one timechairman of the party. He had a great taste for the amuse-ments of country life, and when tired of the routine ofprofessional duties employed his leisure among his flowersat his country cottage, near Emsworth.Mr. Parson’s life was distinguished by unswerving in-

tegrity and incessant usefulness. He was esteemed andbeloved by people of all ranks and parties, and was everready to do an act of kindness for any who required it.His memory will long be cherished by his many friends.

PROFESSOR FRANCESCO RATTI.

ONE of the brightest ornaments of the Roman school hasjust passed away in the Commendatore Francesco Ratti,who died on the evening of Jan. 22nd, in his seventy-fiHhyear. A distinguished student at the Sapienza, hegraduated as Doctor of Medicine in 1835, and was shortlythereafter nominated Primccrius Physician of the Romanhospitals. His studies, which at first embraced everydepartment of the healing art, were ultimately concen-trated on chemistry and toxicology, and in 1844 hewas elected against a number of very formidable com-petitors to the chair of General Chemistry in theUniversity of Rome. An ardent patriot, he sided withthe Republican party in 1848, and in the followingyear, when the triumvirate, of whom Mazzini was thechief and Garibaldi the military representative, displacedthe Government of Pius IX., Ratti was entrusted withhonourable command in the " University Battalion," andundertook the hazardous mission of finding his way toTuscany to procure ammunition. When in 1850 the Pope,by the aid of Louis Napoleon, President of the FrenchRepublic, returned to Rome, Ratti was severely punishedfor the ’part he took in the Liberal cause, and, among othermarks of Papal displeasure, was suspended for two yearsfrom the privilege of lecturing or teaching. When seven-teen years later Garibaldi renewed his attempt to vindicateRome for United Italy, Ratti again came to the front andacted as one of the National Roman Committee. In1870, with the fall of the Temporal Power, the Revo-lutionary party was dissolved, and Ratti, like manyother patriots of the profession in Italy, threw himselfwith renovated enthusiasm into medical work. By theItalian Government he was nominated its representative atthe great Medical Congress held in 1872 at Vienna, and wasfurther promoted by it to the post of President of theSuperior Sanitary Council, the duties of which he dischargedwith conspicuous ability for six years. He held positionsof tru.t in numerous medical charities and institutions, andacted as President of the Commission for the Hospital ofthe Good Shepherd. During three Legislatures he repre-sented one of the electoral divisions of Rome in the Chamberof Deputies, always sitting and voting with the party of theLeft. The well being of Rome was always near his heart,and he laboured assiduously for such a restoration of herchool of veterinary medicine as would revive the soundtraditions of Metaxá, of Cappello, and of the other mastersin the institute which had been inopportunely suppressed.Professor Ratti was a frequent contributor to the Transac-tions of the scientific bodies of which he was a member, and

his papers on chemistry and therapeutics, original in researchand independent in thought, were much valued in Italy andon the Continent. He was an active promoter of the crema-tion of the dead, and presided over a society for the exten-sion of the practice to all parts of Italy. He lived to seemany of the opponents of it converted to his side, and towitness its adoption in nearly every considerable centre ofpopulation throughout the peninsula.In spite of his advanced years he held important posts at

the time of his death. He was Director of the School ofPharmacy in the Roman University, Professor of Pharma-ceutical Chemistry and Toxicology in the same seat oflearning, and sat on more than one commission of themunicipality. His funeral, on the 24th ult., was an impressiveone. It was attended by the leading citizens and lights ofthe profession in Rome; while the students, invited at thespecial instance of the rector of the Sapienza, formed aninteresting feature in the solemn profession.

CHARLES GREEN, M.D.CHARLES GREEN, M.D., of Gateshead, died rather

suddenly at his residence, Walker-terrace, on the 5th inst.He was only just thirty-three years of age, and was oneof the prominent men in medical circles on Tyneside.He had been ailing for a considerable time, and hadonly recently returned from Bournemouth, where he hadgone for the benefit of his health. He was M.D. ofDurham University, and after being qualified, settled downin Gateshead, where he was appointed medical officer ofhealth. He resigned that appointment, and afterwardsbecame medical officer of health for the east district of theparish of Gateshead. He represented the North Ward inthe Town Council, and took a great interest in local affairs.He was also a member of the Lodge of Freemasons, No. 48.He delivered courses of lectures for a period of three years atthe Mechanics’ Institute, Gateshead, on ambulance work,and the students were very successful. Dr. Green acted assurgeon to the Newcastle Artillery up to a few days beforehis death. When employed as medical officer of theborough he paid assiduous attention to his duties and per-formed much in the way of sanitary work. He effectuallycalled attention to and secured investigation into thematter of the great infantile mortality which was then theunhappy experience of Gateshead. Owing to his con-

nexion with the 1st Newcastle Artillery as surgeon, hisold comrades in arms decided that he should be interredwith military honours. The deceased gentleman was of avery genial disposition, and will be missed by a largecircle of acquaintances.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OFENGLAND.

AT an ordinary meeting of the Council, held on the13th inst., the minutes of the quarterly Council of the9th ult. were read and confirmed.The Secretary reported the death of Mr. Alexander Shaw,

a past member of the Council, and a vote of condolencewith Mrs. Shaw was unanimously passed.The eighteenth report from the Committee on the Exten-

sion of the College Premises was read, adopted, and enteredon the minutes. The committee reported that they hadunder their consideration certain modifications of the plansalready adopted for the new large museum, and recommendthe Council to sanction an additional expenditure of £32 9s.for providing better means of access between the galleries ofthe new large museum and the present western museum,and of £77 10s. for providing glass-floor galleries in the newlarge museum in place of the stone-floor galleries specified inthe original plans With regard to the new small museum,on the recommendation contained in the seventeenth reportof the committee, the Council sanctioned the expenditure ofa sum not exceeding E300; and the committee thereforenow recommended the expenditure of a sum not exceedingE399 lls. for fittings and pedestals with hinged leaves forthe second-floor gallery, in substitution of the formerauthorised expenditure of £300 for pedestals alone.The report from the Laboratories Committee, dated

Jan. 22nd last, was read and adopted. The report detailedthe duties attaching to the offiee of Director, and the con-ditions relating to his appointment. The committeeunanimously resolved to nominate Dr. Sims Woodhead forelection to the post, thus agreeing with the decision of the

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Comitia of the Royal College of Physicians, as recorded inour issue of the lst inst.A report from the Committee on the Extension of the

Examination Hall Buildings was approved and adopted,subject to the approval of the Royal College of Physicians.

Letters were read from Dr. Liveing, registrar, reportingthe proceedings of the Council of the Royal College ofPhysicians in reference to the alteration in the regulationsfor the conjoint diploma in Public Health of the twoColleges; also reporting the proceedings of that College atthe quarterly meeting on the 30th ult. with reference tomatters affecting the two Colleges.A copy of the statement of defence in the action of

Steele v. Savory, prepared by Mr. Wilde and Mr. Paget,was read by the President, who also stated that, as the timeallowed for the delivery of the statement of defence expiredon Jan. 29th, he had, in the absence of any meeting of theCouncil, with the consent of the Vice-Presidents, and thepast President, Sir William Savory, Bart., authorised Mr.Wilde to take the necessary steps to deliver the statementon that date. The action of the President was approved.The attention of the Council was directed to the Bill

to be brought into Parliament with regard to the StrandImprovement Scheme, and the President and Vice-Presidents were authorised to take such steps as theythought proper with regard to the subject.

Medical News.ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF ENGLAND.-

The following gentlemen, having passed the necessaryexaminations, were, at an ordinary meeting of the Councilon the 13th inst., admitted Members of the College:--Bott, William, L.S.A., Workhouse-lane, Tipton. ,

Bra,nscn, William, L.R.C.P.Lond., Carnsoi House, Rotherham.Campbell, Jas. Tweedie, M.D., Bellevue, Hillmartin-road.Collins, E. T., L.S.A., Campden House, Selly Park, Birmingham. ,Griffiths, John, L.S.A., Beechfields, Oswestry.Haswell, John Francis, M.B.Edin., Monk Seaton, Northumberland.Kingdon, Ernest Cory, M.B.Edin., Upper College-street, Nottingham.MacKnight, Conway Montgomery, M.B.Melb., Mornington-road.Moore, George Ogle, L.R.C.P.Edin., Bramham-gardens.Morton, James Douglas, L.S.A., St. George’s-square.Sloggett, H. P., L.K.Q.C.P.I., Stacey-road, Cardiff.

Also those gentlemen whose names were given last week asof those who had received the L.R.C.P. Lond., with thefollowing exceptions :-E. M. Callender, J. M. Cochrane, J. A. Fox, A. W. Gilchrist, E. B.

Harris, W. W. Heelas, E. Hobhouse, E. H. Lingwood, R. H. Palmer,F. R. H. Potts, G. R. Saunders, and T. A. Woodruff.

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON: M.B. EXAMINATION.-The following candidates passed the entire examination:—

First Division.—Sidney Spenser F. Blackman, St. Bartholomew’sHospital; Francis Chown, St. Mary’s Hospital; Geo. A. Clarkson,St. Paul’s School and St. Cteorge’s Hospital; Arthur P. Cummings,King’s College; Alfred Henry Gerrard, Univ. Coll. and IslingtonHigh School; Samuel Clarke Hodgsou, B.A., Yorkshire College andprivate study; Sydney Price James, Guy’s Hospital and privatetuition; Fredk. Wm. Robertson, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Second Division. —Joseph Ashton, University College, Aberystwith,and St. Mary’s Hospital; Francis John H. Cann, Guy’s Hospitaland private tuition; Lancelot Arthur Dowson, Yorkshire College;James Dumas, B.A., private study; Daniel Edward Evans, Univer-sity College, Aberystwith, and St. Mary’s Hospital; Philip HenryFearnsides, Yorkshire College; Ella Catherine Flint, UniversityCollege, Birkbeck Institute, and private tuition; M. Leslie GuyHallwright, Mason College and private study; Arthur Marriott,Firth College; Alfred Miller, Guy’s Hospital and BirkbeekInstitute;Archibald Young, Firth College.EvESHAM COTTAGE HOSPITAL has received a

donation of £500 from Mr. Thomas White of Evesham.

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.—We understand thatDr. Saundby’s work on Bright’s Disease has been translatedinto German by W. W. Leurier.

BEQUESTS. - Mrs. Jane Hore, of Monkstown,Ireland, has left £500 to the Hospital for Incurables ; :flOOOto Monkstown Hospital; £500 to the Convalescent Home,Monkstown; jE500 to the Richmond Blind Institution ; £500to the City of Dublin Hospital; £500 to Adelaide Hospital;and £500 to St. Mark’s Ophthalmic Hospital, Dublin.FOOTBALL CASUALTIES.-On Saturday, during a

match between Pudsey and Mytholmroyd, on the groundof the latter, a young man named Pugh, one of the hometeam, sustained a fracture of the shoulder-blade.-A foot-ball player named Hill, on Saturday, engaged in a matchbetween Torquay Athletic and Paignton Scarlet Runners,had his leg fractured.

INFLUENZA.-In reply to a question by Mr. Cobbas to whether any officiaL inquiry had been held or evidencecollected as to the causes of the recent epidemic of in-fluenza, Mr. Ritchie, President of the Local GovernmentBoard, replied that inquiry was now being -conducted, butthat the board were not in a position to draw up a state-ment on the subject, and had no intention of giving in.structions for treatment.

CITY OF LONDON TRUSS SOCIETY.—During thepast year 10,065 patients of both sexes had been assistedwith trusses-the largest number ever relieved through theSociety’s agency in the course of twelve months. The totalincome amounted to 946S5 8s. and the disbursements to.£5074 8s. 10d. the total increase, compared with the corre-sponding total a year since, has been largely due to theadditional number of patients relieved.NEWPORT AND COUNTY INFIRMARY.—The annual

report for 1889 shows that the income of the charity con-tinued to be well maintained. The annual subscriptionsand collections had both increased. On the general accountthe receipts for the year were £2492 6s. 8d., but a balancedue to the treasurer at the end of 1888 was slightly more-viz., from E157 9s. 6d. to 9174 13s. 8d. The in- and out-patients were_respectively 327 and 1640.WREXHAM INFIRMARY.—The annual report (the

fifty-seventh) shows there had been a slight increase in theadmission of in-patients during the past year, and 1033 out-patients had received the benefit of the dispensary depart-ment. The prominent feature of the year’s work was theopening of the Jubilee wards, towards which £446 18s. 10d.was subscribed. Of this sum n34 3s. Od. had been con-tributed by workmen.WESTON-SUPER-MARE HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARY.

The general report for 1889 states that the number ofpatients received during the year was in excess -of eitherof the two previous years. The provident dispensary showsan addition of upwards of 100 members. The subscriptions.were slightly in excess of 1888, but the Hospital Sundaycollections amounted to only £266—the smallest sum con-tributed for the past fourteen years, the average havingbeen £400. The balance sheet exhibited a small deficit.The condition of the mortuary and the wards for infectiouscases was not satisfactory, and improvements only awaitedthe necessary funds.

HOUSEHOLD WARMING AND VENTILATION.-SirDouglas Galton, K. C. B. &c., presided on Tuesday last at alecture on this subject, given under the auspices of the-Sanitary Assurance Association at the College of StateMedicine, Great llussell-street, by Professor T. RogerSmith, F.R,.LB.A. The chairman said he thought if theycould only heat dwelling-houses thoroughly withoutpoisoning the atmosphere with smoke great good wouldbe done. In the course of the lecture Professor Smithdwelt at some length upon the importance of venti-lation without draughts. An open fire-grate -was a goodventilator, especially when the fire was alight; but he was.afraid that as long as the open grate was used for warminghouses, it would be impossible to thoroughly deal with thequestion of smoke abatement. Sir Joseph Fayrer, in moving:a vote of thanks to the lecturer, said he should deprecate verystrongly any attemptto do away with the cheerful open grate.

COTTAGE HOSPITALS.— Dawlish: The report for1889 shows the income during the year to have been£366 10s. ; a small balance remained in hand. Seventy-five patients had been admitted, and 292 cases had alsobeen treated. The provident principle in the institutionwas gradually progressing. —Bromsgrove: During last yearthe number of patients treated was sixty-one. The balance-sheet exhibits a reduction of the debit balance, which nowamounts to E33 14s. 6d, The donations promised to erect anew hospital amount to upwards of £1300.—Dartmouth:Thirty-six patients were admitted during the year 1889.The receipts were £354, and the expenditure £247. The-committee had resolved to invest £100.—Luton The ad-mission of patients during the past year numbered 107.Many cases had been taken in free, and although there-was an increase of patients the fees were less than theprevious year. —Walsall: In-patients to the number of 407,3432 out-patients, and 7049 casualties were attended toduring the past year. The financial position was. oia thewhole satisfactory.