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1000; no fatal case of any of these diseases was registeredduring the month under notice in St. Martin-in-the-Fields ;in the other sanitary areas they caused the lowest death-rates in St. George Hanover-square, St. James Westminster,Hampstead, Stoke Newington, Strand, City of London, andNewington; and the highest rates in Chelsea, St. Maryle-bone, St. Luke, Limehouse, St. Saviour Southwark, St. OlaveSouthwark, and Plumstead. The 329 fatal cases of measleswere 37 above the corrected average number in the corre-sponding periods of the ten preceding years; this diseaseshowed the highest proportional fatality in Chelsea, Maryle-bone, St. Giles, Holborn, Limehouse, Rotherhithe, andPlumstead sanitary areas. The 43 deaths from scarletfever were 23 below the corrected average number; themortality from this disease was highest in Shoreditchand St. George Southwark sanitary areas. The 104 fatalcases of diphtheria were 39 below the corrected averagenumber; among the various sanitary areas this diseaseshowed the highest proportional fatality in Chelsea,Hampstead, St. Luke, Poplar, and Lewisham. The 204deaths from whooping-cough were 39 below the correctedaverage number; the mortality from this disease was highestin Fulham, Bethnal Green, Mile End Old Town, St. SaviourSouthwark, and St. Olave Southwark sanitary areas. The18 fatal cases of enteric fever were 17 below the correctedaverage number ; the mortality from this disease last monthshowed no marked excess in any of the sanitary areas.The 47 deaths from diarrhœa were 16 below the correctedaverage. In conclusion, it may be stated that the aggregatemortality in London last month from these principal zymoticdiseases was 12 per cent. below the average,. the deathsfrom each of the diseases except measles being below theaverage.

Infant mortality in London, measured by the proportionof deaths of children under one year of age to registeredbirths, was last month equal to 127 per 1000. Among thevarious sanitary areas the lowest rates of infant mortalitywere recorded in St. George Hanover-square, Hampstead,St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Whitechapel, Newington, andPlumstead; and the highest rates in Chelsea, Clerkenwell,Limehouse, St. Saviour Southwark, St. Olave Southwark,Botherhithe, and Lee.

THE SERVICES.

NAVAL MEDICAL SERVICE.STAFF-SURGEON FRANCIS AUSTEN JEANS has been pro-

moted to the rank of Fleet-Surgeon in Her Majesty’s Fleet.ARMY MEDICAL STAFF.

Surgeon-Lieutenant O’Gorman is transferred from Alder-shot to Dublin for duty. Surgeon-Major Forman is postedto the Station Hospital, Western Heights, Dover, for duty.Surgeon-Major Pike has assumed Medical Charge of theDistrict Staff, Army Pay Department, Fire :Brigade, MilitaryPolice, Model School, women and children, and Hospital forSoldiers’ Wives, Aldershot. Surgeon-Major McCormack andSurgeon-Captain Kelly hold themselves in readiness forservice in Egypt next month. Surgeon-Captain Beach hasjoined at Woolwich for duty. Surgeon-Captain Thomson isheld in readiness for service in Egypt.

INDIA AND THE INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICES.

Surgeon-Captain Hore (Bengal) is appointed to officiate asResidency Surgeon in the Persian Gulf until further orders.Surgeon-Captain Stevens is appointed Resident MedicalOfficer of the Medical College Hospital at Calcutta, andis also appointed to act as Professor of Physiology, MedicalCollege Hospital, Calcutta, during the absence on furloughof Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel D. D. Cunningham,C.I.E.

ARMY MEDICAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.

Surgeon-Captain J. W. T. Gilbert to be Surgeon-Major.VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Rifle : 5th (the Hay Tor) Volunteer Battalion the Devon-shire Regiment: Surgeon-Lieutenant W. H. Webb to beSurgeon-Captain. lst (Brecknockshire) Volunteer Battalionthe South Wales Borderers: The surname of the medicalofficer hitherto described as Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Shrimpsbire is Skrimshire. 2nd (Berwickshire)Volunteer Battalion the King’s Own Scottish Borderers:Surgeon-Lieutenant J. McWatt, M.B. Edin., resigns his com-mission. 6th Volunteer Battalion, the Manchester Regiment:Surgeon-Major T. Fort to be Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel.

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.We said quite recently that the war was fast approaching

its moat critical stage and that everything depended upon thenature of the measures adopted at the present time whether itwas soon to be within measurable distance of its end or not.There has since then been much to chronicle, but there isthe same perplexing difficulty in trying to separate factfrom fiction or mere rumour in the intelligence whichhas been received. The exaggerated accounts, too, ’ofthe fighting, when compared with the results, are oftenludicrous. We think the following may, however, be takenas representing a fairly reliable, or highly probable, viewof the position. Admiral Cervera’s fleet is at Santiago.Lieutenant Hobson, belonging to the Construction De.

partment of the United States Navy, and his crew

on board the Merrimac, by a very bold and daring actof bravery executed with rare skill and coolness, havesucceeded in sinking that vessel pretty fairly athwart thethroat of the channel to the harbour-in other words, theSpanish fleet is I bottled up " there. We are glad to noticethat the Americans have fully recognised, by the way, thechivalric generosity displayed by Admiral Cervera on theoccasion in question, which may hereafter prove veryuseful to Spain when the terms of peace have to besettled. A large invading fcrce is reported to have leftAmerica for Cuba for the capture of Santiago. It seemscertain, moreover, that Santiago has been again bombardedby the American fleet. In the Philippines it is alleged thatthe insurgents have nearly surrounded Manila and have onseveral occasions defeated the Spanish troops in theirencounters with them. As regards the Cadiz squadron thenews is as conflicting and contradictory as it was a shorttime ago in regard to Admiral Cervera’s fleet, but it is mostprobable that the Cadiz fleet is still there or somewherein the vicinity. The most curious thing about the war,which was long foreseen as probable, is that neither sidewas prepared for it and that Spain in particular seems to.have done little or nothing with the forces-naval or

military-at her disposal. The description of the hospitalarrangements at Key West (published in the Standard ofJune 7th from its special correspondent with the army atTampa) does not give a favourable account of them. Thechoice of Key West was no doubt forced upon the Americansfrom its geographical position, but it is in most respects avery unsuitable climate and locality for the accommodationof sick and wounded soldiers, and much remains to be donebefore even the best that can be practically made of it hasbeen attained. According to the descriptions that havebeen given of the United States hospital ship Solace, com-missioned with Admiral Sampson’s fleet, it must be a veryfine floating hospital. It flies a Geneva Cross flag andcarries no arms or weapons of war. It has a number oflaunches for rescuing the crews of vessels sunk in action.The equipment of the Solace is very elaborate and complete dlifts, ice-making machinery, operating rooms, pharmacy,means of disinfection, and all the latest surgical andscientific appliances. The medical and nursing staff onboard is upon an ample scale.

APOTHECARIES IN THE FRENCH ARMY.The new Cadre of the French Army Medical Service pro-

vides for 115 apothecaries, in addition to the 1457 medicalofficers whose grading was recently mentioned in thiscolumn.’ The apothecaries are graded as follows: Inspector,1 ; principal apothecaries of the first and second class, 4 and5 respectively ; apothecary-majors of the first and secondclass, 30 and 45 respectively; assistant apothecary-majorsof the first and second class, 20 and 10 respectively. Theynext examination for admission to the service, whether aamedical officer or apothecary, is to take place next December.All candidates must be born or naturalised Frenchmen, notless than twenty-six years of age, and possessing diplomasas doctors of medicine or first-class apothecaries. Theymust also produce certificates of aptitude for military servicegranted by officers of not lower rank than surgeon-major, and be prepared to sign an agreement to serve

with the colours for at least six years after gaining theirfirst step.

A MEDICAL HERO.The Cross of the Legion of Honour has been conferred

upon Dr. Abbatucci, a French naval surgeon, for gallantconduct under circumstances which recall the brave conductin the New Zealand war of two officers of the Army Medical

1 THE LANCET, May 7th, 1898, p. 1283.

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Department- Surgeon. General Mouat, V.C., and the lateSurgeon-General (afterwards Director-General) Mackinnon.’’The description of Dr. Abbatacci’s exploit in the JournalOlficiel runs as follows : "In the affair at Diagourou(Soudan) he not only distinguished himself by attending tothe wounded under fire, but also took a prominent part inrepelling the enemy, with his own hands keeping up awell-directed rifle fire in order to encourage by his examplea section of tirailleurs, and subsequently doing gunner’s<duty for an officer of artillery whose men for the most partwere hors de combat."

THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.The rumour that Lord Wolseley had been offered the

appointment of the Governor-Generalship of Canada andthat he might possibly be induced to accept a less arduouspost than that which he at present holds seems to haveobtained some credence. Nothing definite is really known,however, as to the truth or otherwise of this rumour. It isvery naturally surmised that in case of Lord Wolseley’s re-tirement he would be succeeded in his present post by LordRoberts and that the Duke of Connaught would commandthe Forces in Ireland and Sir Redvers Buller would take overthe Aldershot command. It was also rumoured some time.ago that Lord Wolseley’s health was not so good as it hashitherto always been. We should be sorry if this were so,but from his lordship’a frequent appearances in public oflate it certainly would not seem to be the case.

THE PABKES MEMORIAL PRIZE. i

This prize, which was founded in memory of the late Pro-fessor Parked, is awarded triennially and consists of 75guineas in money and a bronze medal. Tte competition isopen to all medical officers of the Army, Navy, and Indianservices of executive rank on full pay. The assessors, Dr.Arthur Ransome, Dr. James Niven, and Professor SheridanDelepine, have awarded the prize this year to Surgeon-Captain Fred. Smith of the Army Medical Staff, while statingthat Staff-Surgeon W. W. Pugh, R.N., and Surgeon-Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Duncan, I.M.S., contributedessays of great merit. The subject of Surgeon- CaptainSmith’s prize essay was "The Etiology, Prevalence, and Pre-vention of Diphtheria."

ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL, NETLEY.The under-mentioned officers, who since passing through

the School at Aldershot have been serving in the SurgicalDivision of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, are orderedto hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Egypt : Sur-

geon-Lieutenant P. McKessack, M.B. Aberd,, and Surgeon-Lieutenant J. McD. ;McCarthy. The number of patients inthe Royal Victoria Hospital is now reduced to about 650.

DEATHS IN THE SERVICES.

Brigade - Surgeon - Lieutenant - Colonel William AlexanderBarren, on Jane 8th, in his 49th year. He served with the

Bombay Sappers and Miners in the Afghan War of 1880 andwas in medical charge of the 4th Bombay Native Infantry(medal). He also took part in the Burmese Expedition of1886-88 (medal with two clasps).

2 See THE LANCET, Nov. 20th, 1897, p. 1349.

MEDICAL GUILD AT CARDIFF. -At a recentmeeting of members of the medical profession in Cardiff itwas decided to establish a medical guild similar to the onemisting at Manchester.THE CHEMISTS’ EXHIBITION, 18&uuml;8.-This exhibi-

tion, now an annual event, has become deservedly popular,having developed into a well-arranged display of interestingeghibits so large as to need the commodious area affordedby the Agricultural Hall. We noticed that all the leading and- conspicuously enterprising firms were represented and mostof them found excellent materials in the manifold drugs,chemical preparations, &c., to form a decidedly artistic andattractive exhibition. Pharmacy was chiefly in evidence, butaiot exclusively, as instanced in the assortment of sanitaryappliances, food and food products, photographic requisitesand new developments, dental apparatus, and a great varietyof advertising devices. In short, the exhibition is a successand receives support from the most reputable quarters. Lastyear some 25,580 persons attended and there is every reasonfor believing that this year that number will be largelyexceeded.

Correspondence.

THE ST. NEOTS CASE OF POISONING BYSTRYCHNINE : AN INSTRUCTIVE CASE.

Audi alteram partem."

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,-May I invite attention to one very instructive pointin the history of this case No one who has made a studyof forensic medicine can fail to concur in the admirable

summing up of Mr. Justice Hawkins or in your leadingarticle on the case. But the point which it is especiallydesirable to emphasise is the bearing upon experimentalscience. The first point in the trial was to establish the factthat the victim died by poisoning and by what poison. Howwas this fundamental point proved ? Dr. Thomas Stevenson,scientific analyst to the Home Office, stated first that hefound strychnine in all the organs he removed from thebody. He arrived at the conclusion that death was

due to poison by means of the approved chemical tests,and also by physiological tests - i.e., he gave scme ofthe poison to animals. What will the anti-vivisection bigotssay to this application of experimental science to theaid of justice ? Of course, it is hopeless folly to reason withminds possessed of one idea. But a case of this kinddeserves special record for the benefit of mankind and thesound administration of justice. But this is not all. Theenormous quantity of strychnine administered in this casedefied successful treatment. Experiment, however, hasproved that poisoning by such a dose of strychnine as wouldbe sufficient to kill may be successfully treated. I havealways looked back upon my work with Marshall Hall as oneof the most fortunate and instructive events in my career. Iassisted him in the following experiments. A frog waspoisoned by subcutaneous injection of strychnine. If leftin a state of perfect quiescence no convulsion occurred andit recovered. But another frog treated with the same dosesuffered attacks of convulsion by simply shaking the table onwhich it rested or by irritating the skin and the repeatedprovocation of convulsive fits ended in its death.Now what is the practical lesson dictated by this experi-

ment ? It teaches how to treat convulsion. Absolute rest isthe first condition. Observing this rule, I have severaltimes rescued women suffering from albuminuric convulsionsby close watching and making them inhale chloroformor nitrite of amyl on the first sign of approachingconvulsion. The recurrence of convulsive fits is a mainfactor in causing the death. The repeated shocks tothe nervous centres fxhaust and paralyse the nervous

power. Avoid these shocks and the first cause of thenervous distress may be eliminated. I have bad one

striking example of this truth in a case of poisoning bystrychnine. An officer in the army given to the free use ofalcohol and repudiating heel-taps, swallowed in one draughta bottle of physic containing one grain of strychnine. Thedirection was to take a sixth part twice a day. He wasseized with violent characteristic convulsions. FortunatelyI was at hand. I immediately put him under chloroformand put him under the care of an assistant, who assiduouslywatched him, making him inhale the an&aelig;sthetic whenevernervous disturbance threatened. This was continued forthe whole night. Next day the poison had been eliminatedand he recovered. Here, then, is clear evidence of the valueof experimental physiology in the saving of human life. Isthe sacrifice of a frog to be regarded as sinful when appliedto the saving of human life? What can be said for the

sportsman who shoots a bird for mere sport or for thebutcher who kills a sheep to find us food ?

T am Sirs yours faithfiillv

June 13th, 1898. ROBERT BARNES.

"GENU RECURVATUM."To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SiRs,-Dr. Taylor’s case of genu recurvatum (describedin THE LANCET of June llth) with delayed development ofthe patell&aelig; is instructive as showing the tendency to spon-taneous cure which this deformity so often evinces. Evenextreme cases may recover practically without treatment.