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Classes Act, 1890, is also adverted to, and it is explainedthat County Councils are now invested with the powerof taking proceedings, on the default of a rural sanitaryauthority, for the closing and demolition of insanitarydwellings, and the removal of obstructive buildings; andalso that the Act has transferred to County Councils thejurisdiction to direct the holding of the necessary localinquiries which, under the Act of 1885, was vested in theLocal Government Board. And, whilst copies of all reportsfrom local health officers dealing with this subject mustbe forwarded to the County Council, it is also providedthat the reporb. of a county health officer shall be, in likemanner, regarded as a representative under the Act. InGlamorganshire the Board satisfied themselves as to the

propriety of a representation of the County Council underthe Rivers Pollution Act, and gave their permission forthe institution of proceedings against a company for

polluting the river Ely. The Board have also sanctionedthe formation of two joint committees to deal with thewaters of the Irwell and Mersey basin and with part ofthe basin of the river Ribble respectively. A similarscheme as to the river Aire has temporarily been deferred,evidently because it ought to have been made to includethe basin of the Calder also.Coming next to the question of the relief of the poor, we

find that on Jan. 1st, 1891, there were 12,789 fewer paupersthan there were twelve months before-the decreaseamounting to 1’6 per cent. of the total. The ratio ofpaupers per 1000 of population differs very remarkably indifferent counties ; and it is evident that the contrastbetween 17’3 per 1000 in Lancashire and no less than 45’8in Norfolk must, in an important measure, be due toadministrative causes, and cannot be regarded as explainedby differences in local trade prosperity. The general rateper head of the population in connexion with poorrelief has been slightly but constantly diminishing since1883. It then stood at 6s. 4d.; it is now 5s. 9 3/4 d. Wherethere has been increase it is Middlesex that heads the list,and this must doubtless be largely due to the great cost inmaking arrangements for meeting new and modern demandsfor metropolitan paupers.Turning to the subject of public health and local adminis-

tration we find many matters of interest. Urban and ruralauthorities received as loans during the past year a sum of£2,827,296 ; £4000 were sanctioned under the Artisans andLabourers’ Dwellings Improvement Act, 1875, and .E88.475were sanctioned for the use of joint boards. In addition tothis, a sum of £3,901,430 was allowed to be raised by towncouncils and sanitary authorities under local Acts passed byParliament. In a considerable number of instances urban ipowers were granted to rural authorities for such purposesas the making of by-laws for the control of new streets andbuildings and for the prevention of nuisances. In six in-;stances inquiry was held as to complaints that authoritieswere in default in the matters referred to in Section 299 ofthe Public Health Act. The Town Council of Birkenheadgave an assurance that the needed sewerage scheme should beproceeded with ; in the Brixworth rural district muchthesameend was brought about; at St. Anne’s-on-Sea the authoritycalled in an engineer after being told that they would other-wise be declared as in default; in Worcester city the Councilhave been declared in default, and have been ordered to performtheir duty in providing a proper scheme of sewage disposal,and some advance has been made in a few other cases. Thecompulsory power thus vested in the Board, and which washappily not transferred from them to County Councils, asoriginally proposed in 1888, is again shown to be of realvalue in regard of our sanitary administration, and its exer-cise in such caqes as we have adverted to affords a healthystimulus to needed sanitary progress. In a number of casesport sanitary administration has been put either on a betteror on a permanent footing, and thus improvements affect-ing crews and shipping, and also having an influencein the protection of our shores from foreign epidemic disease,have been brought about. The progress made as regardsartisans’ dwellings, the steps adopted in connexion with theHousing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, and the adop-tion by authorities of the Public Health Amendment Act,1890, and the Infectious Disease (Prevention) Act, 1890,are explained; and since these later Acts confer uponsanitary authorities many useful additional powers re-

lating to the prevention of infection, the regulation of theheight of rooms, and other allied matters, it must be a sourceof satisfaction that there is already so wide a desire to take

advantage of the new statutory provisions. Then, again, itseems that 110 authorities made regulations with respect todairies, cowsheds, and milkshops during the year; that alarge number of improved codes for general by-laws weresubmitted for approval, and that steady progress is beingmade in a number of allied matters, notably as regards theinspection and control of canal boats.The Local Government Board have now approved of 231

analysts for the purposes of the Sale of Food and DrugsAct ; and whereas the number of analyses made averagedonly one to every 1473 of the population during the years1878-82, they were as one to every 946 people last year.The work is, however, most unequally performed, and in anumber of counties and boroughs no action whatever istaken. Amongsb the latter we find such places as South-port, ScarbolOugh, and Dover, where it might havebeen presumed that the health sought by visitorswould have been promoted by every endeavour to

provide them with unadulterated food and drugs. Thepenalties, too, remain altogether inadequate to thegravity of the offence, and to the profit with which adul-teration is associated. More than a hundred of the finesinflicted were of half-a-crown or even less. The proportionof adulterated articles turned out last year to be 1 L’2 percent. of the articles examined, the percentages beinghighest in the following instances :-Spirits, 181 ; coffee,15’3; drugs, 14.5; sugar, 13’8; milk, 12-8; and butter,11’5. Compa,red with former years, milk would appear tobe now less adulterated than it used to be ; but it may bethat the result is partly due to caution on the part ofanalysts, who, as the report states, have found out fromexperience the impossibility of discriminating between milkthat is naturally poor and rich milk that has been watered.In Salford and Manchester great caution is exercised asto milk, samples being taken at the railway stationsbefore the cans are delivered to the retailers, and theresult is that in Salford, for example, the proportionof adulterated samples has dropped down to 2 per cent.The adulteration of milk is carried on to the greatestextent just amongst the classes who most suffer from suchtampering, and it is to be hoped that much more stringentaction will be taken in the matter throughout the countrygenerally. Birmingham has taken the lead in dealingwith drugs, a third of the articles examined throughoutthe country being dealt -with in that borough, and insome cases some fairly substantial fines have been in-flicted. The Report next deals with a number of subjectswhich, it may be expected, will be more fully discussedin the forthcoming report of the Medical Officer ti theBoard, and on these we reserve any comment. Takingthe volume as a whole, it embodies a record of work thatmay well cause some astonishment; indeed, notwithstand-ing the attempts professed and made as to the desirabilityof extending the principle of local self-government, the LocalGovernment Board appears to become more and more acentre from which emanates a general supervision of allmatters relating to health, poor law, local taxation and ex-penditure, and a variety of other subjects incidental to these.

THE

ELECTION OF DIRECT REPRESENTATIVES.

A MEETING of the Committee for promoting the re- elec-tion of Mr. Wheelhouse, Sir W. Foster, and Dr. Gloverto the General Medical Council as direct representatives forEngland and Wales was held on Tuesday in the rooms ofthe Medico-Chirurgical Society. Dr. Stokes (Highbury)presided Mr. Wheelhouse, in the course of a briefaddress, narrated some interesting reminiscences of thestruggle continued by Sir W. (then Dr.) B. W. Foster,Dr. Waters of Chester, and himself during twenty years,until its uncertainties and efforts resulted in the estab-lishment of the representative body now known as theGeneral Medical Council. The opposition manifested incertain quarters to the re-election of himself and hiscolleagues he considered should not be regarded as indicatingany feeling of hostility. On the contrary, there had been,so far as observation went, an almost unanimous approval oftheir past conduct. Sir Walter Foster and Dr. Glover alsoaddressed the meeting, after which a resolution thankingthe retiring representatives for their faithful service

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during the last five years, and pledging the meetingto use every means to secure their return, was pro-posed by Mr. Aikin, seconded by Dr. Eastes, andcarried unanimously. As regards the prospects of thesegentlemen, it seemed to be felt at the meeting ;that a largevote in their favour might be expected in the Englishnorthern counties. It was also deemed desirable to urgethe many friends of the present representatives not to taketheir return for granted, and so possibly, by mere omissionto vote, to prove their unwitting but effective enemies.Messrs. G. T. Keele and H. F. Stokes are the honorarysecretaries.

THE MODE OF PROCEDURE.

The process of election of direct representatives is asomewhat complicated one, and our readers may like tohave information as to its principal steps.The nomination papers must be signed by at least twelve

registered practitioners, and each candidate must have aseparate nomination paper.The following are the steps as defined in the minutes of

the Council :-(a) The notice of the election to be published by the

returning officer on November 9th, being fourteen days, asprescribed by the Act, before the last day on which nomina-tion papers are to be sent in.

(b) The precept to the Branch Councils for the electionof representatives to be issued by the returning officer(Sir Richard Quain, President of the Council) on Nov. 20th,a date which, according to the Act, must be fixed by himbetween Nov. 6th and Nov. 20tb.

(c) The nomination papers to be sent in not later thanNov. 23rd, a date which, according to the Act, must be fixedby the returning officer.

(d) The Branch Councils to meet on Nov. 24th to receivethe precept.

(e) The voting-papers to be issued between Nov. 24th andNov. 28th, allowing an interval of seven days before thelast day fixed for their return-viz., Dec. 5th.

(j) The counting of the votes to take place betweenDec. 7th and Dec. 10th.

(g) The Branch Councils to meet on Dec. llth to receivethe results of the election and to certify them to thereturning officer.

MUNICIPAL HONOURS AND THE MEDICAL

PROFESSION.

IN the recent municipal elections several corporationshave elected medical men as their mayors for the ensuingyear. At Brighton, Dr. JOSEPH EwART, J.P., F.R.C.P.,was elected unanimously to fill the liigh position. At the

inaugural banquet, which took place at the Royal Pavilionon Monday, Nov. 9th, over 200 guests assembled, and inproposing the toast of " The Mayor," Sir Joseph Fayrerspoke of him as his old friend and comrade. Dr. Ewart,who is a Deputy Surgeon-General (retired) of the BengalArmy, went to India about 1852, and when therecommenced a series of investigations which enabledhim to write that remarkable work that still re-

mains in the statistical records of the sanitary con-

dition of India. He was afterwards put in charge ofthe Statistical Office of India. In Calcutta he wasappointed to a professorship, and subsequently becamethe president of the medical faculty in the Collegethere. He left India with the regrets of the’Govern-ment, who had trusted and appreciated him, of hisbrother officers, who esteemed him, and of the greatcommunity, whether native or European, in Calcutta,ef which he had been the personal adviser and friend.In his reply the Mayor said he saw around him men of alldenominations, representing the whole of the community,and he was glad to bhink they would rally round him duringhis year of office and make it as successful as possible. Itwas upon health and upon the opportunities for rational amusement that Brighton depended, and he was glad to say i

that within the next few years they would be able to clear ]away certain insanitary areas and put in their place 1

healthy dwellings for the occupation of the working classes. i

He was confident that in the past all the improvements forthe benefit of visitors would be of a hygienic and sanitarycharacter of the highest order. Among the guests invitedto assist at this banquet were the Editors of THELANCET, who were regretfully unable to attend owing toprevious engagements.-At Bedford, Dr. J. COOMBS, J,P.,M.D.Erlang., M.R.C.S., has been chosen to act’in the capa-city of Mayor. He is a native of Romsey, in Hampshirp,and has been resident in Bedford for nearly fifty years. Hewas educated at St. Bartholomew’s, and afterwards studiedat Erlangen, where he received the degree of M.D. Hewas first elected Mayor in 1871, and a second time in 1889.His portrait adorns the walls of the Shire Hall in Bed-ford.-Dr. W. R. HILL, J.P., M.D., M.R.C.S., has beenchosen the Mayor of Lymington.-Dr. D. J. LEECH,M.D., F. 11. C. P., a very well known member of the profes-sion, is representative of the municipality of Manchester.-At Barnsley Mr. Alderman JOHN BLACKBURN, M.R.C.S.,has been elected to the highest municipal office. In publiclife he has distinguished himself as an attentive member ofthe Town Council and as the chief worker in the St. JohnAmbulance Association in the district. He is honorarycolonel of the Volunteers and Surgeon-Major of the SecondAdministrative Battalion York and Lancaster VolunteerRegiment.-Surgeon-Major J. PARKS, M.R.C.S., has beenelected Mayor of Bury. He was proposed by Col. Walker,who stated that he had great pleasure in proposing Surgeon-Major Parks, because he knew from the feelings that hadpreviously been shown that his nomination would be ac-cepted by every gentleman on the Council. Mr. Bentleyseconded the nomination, and said that, owing to his train-ing as a medical man, Surgeon-Major Parks had been ap-pointed chairman of the Health Committee, and had earnedhigh esteem in that capacity, which he retained that day.-At Stratford-on-Avon R. L. W. GREENE, L R.C.P. & S.Ediu. ; at Bridport W. A. E. HAY, J.P., M.R.C S.; atChichester A. S. BOSTOCK, M.R.C.S. -*art Saffron WaldenAlderman J. P. ATKINSON, M.D., L.R C.P.; and at Mont.gomery N. W. FAIRLESS HUMPHREYS, M.R.C.S., were

elected to occupy the civic chair of their respective corpora-tions during the forthcoming twelve months.-At YeovilAlderman Dr. COL)IER was re- elected Mayor. -At Bristol Mr.CHARLES HiGHETT, J.P., M.R.C.P.Edin., was elected to, thecivic chair. Alderman Fox, in nominating him, describedhim as a very thorough man of business, of most gracious andkindly manners and spirit, and one whom he felt confidentwould discharge the duties of Mayor most satisfactorily.-In Scotland a great honour has been done to the medicalprofession by the election of Dr. J. A. RussELL tobe Lord Provost of Edinburgh. Besides being the firstmedical man who has ever held this important office,Dr. Russell is probably the youngest Lord Provosb thatEdinburgh has had this century. The Lord Provostof Edinburgh is styled Right Honourable, and is LordLieutenant of the county of the city of Edinburgh. He isex officio a member of the University Court, a manager ofthe Royal Infirmary, a member of the Board of Supervisionfor Scotland (which corresponds to the Local GovernmentBoard in England), a Commissioner of Northern Lights(a body which has charge of all the lighthouses round thecoasts of Scotland and in the Isle of Man), and is head ofthe Corporation of Edinburgh. This formidable list of duties,not to mention social functions of all sorts, fully explains whyprofessional men can seldom aspire to the honour. Dr. Russellwas for eight years assistant to Sir William Turner andDemonstrator of Anatomy in the University of Edinburgh.He holds the degrees of M.A., M.B., B.Sc. in the depart-ment of Public Health, and is a Fellow of the RoyalCollege of Physicians of Edinburgh, and a Fellow of the RoyalSociety of that city. He has been eleven years a Member ofCouncil-six as chairman of the Health Committee, and forthe same period a Justice of the Peace and a Bailie.

The foregoing list is specially creditable to the medicalprofession when such towns as Manchester, Edinburgh,Bristol, Brighton, many of the large towns in the busiestparts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, have chosen to honourwith the proudest position a citizen can attain to, mem-bers of a profession which does so much for the advance-ment of the public weal. But it is doubly pleasing toscan the list when one remembers that most if not allthe mayors are men living laborious days, and yet whosepleasure it is to devote all the time at their commandto the benefit of the citizens whose confidence they havegained.