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- of enteric fever showed a slight increase over thatrecorded in the preceding month ; among the several

boroughs this disease was proportionally most prevalent inHampstead, St. Pancras, Islington, the City of London,Shoreditch, and Bermondsey. There were 37 enteric fever

patients under treatment at the end of last month, against64, 42, and 37 at the end of the three preceding months ;the weekly admissions averaged 7, against 7, 5, and 74n the three preceding months. Erysipelas was proportion-ally most prevalent in Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Stepney,Southwark, Bermondsey, Deptford, and Greenwich. The28 cases of puerperal fever notified during the monthincluded 4 in Stepney, 4 in Woolwich, 3 in Chelsea, and2 each in Islington, Poplar, Southwark, Bermondsey, andWandsworth. The 8 cases of cerebro-spinal meningitis- included 3 in Shoieditch, 2 in Fulham, and 2 in Hackney;of the 6 cases of poliomyelitis 2 belonged to Islington.

The mortality statistics in the table relate to the deaths ofpersons actually belonging to the several boroughs, thedeaths occurring in institutions having been distributed

among the boroughs in which the deceased persons had pre-viously resided ; the death-rates for all causes are further,corrected for variations in the sex- and age-constitution of the,populations of the several boroughs. During the five weeksending Feb. lst the deaths of 7319 London residentswere registered, equal to an annual rate of 17’ 8 per1000 ; in the two preceding months 15’ 5 and 12’ 5per 1000 respectively. The death-rates last month rangedfrom 13.1 in Lewisham, 14.1 in Wandsworth, 14-4in Hampstead, 15 - 2 in Fulham, 15.3 in Woolwich, and 15-4in Hackney, to 20’1 in Holborn, 20’3 in Bermondsey, 20’4in Kensington, 21-1 in Bethnal Green, 22-6 in Finsbury,and 26-0 in Shoreditch. The 7319 deaths from all- causes included 613 which were referred to the principalinfectious diseases ; of these, 305 resulted from measles, 24from scarlet fever, 42 from diphtheria, 105 from whooping-cough, 19 from enteric fever, and 118 from diarrhoea andenteritis among children under two years of age. Thelowest death-rates from these diseases was recorded in the

City of Westminster, St. Marylebone, Hampstead, StokeNewington, the City of London, Bermondsey, and Woolwich ;and the highest rates in Hammersmith, Finsbury, Shore-ditch, Bethnal Green, Stepney, and Greenwich. The 305,deaths from measles were 104 in excess of the corrected

- average number for the corresponding period of the five

preceding years; this disease was proportionally mostfatal in Finsbury, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Stepney,Poplar, and Battersea. The 24 fatal cases of scarletfever were 14 fewer than the corrected average number,and included 3 in Hackney, 3 in Islington, 2 in Poplar, 2in Camberwell, and 2 in Lewisham. The 42 deaths fromdiphtheria were 37 below the corrected average number ;of these 42 deaths 5 belonged to St. Pancras, 4 to Green-wich, 3 to Islington, 3 to Poplar, 3 to Lambeth, 3 to

Deptford, and 3 to Lewisham. The 105 fatal cases of

whooping-cough showed a decline of 26 from the correctedaverage number ; this disease was proportionally most fatalin Paddington, Hammersmith, Deptford, and Greenwich.The 19 deaths from enteric fever were slightly in excess ofthe corrected average number, and included 3 in Islington,2 in St. Pancras, 2 in Lambeth, 2 in Wandsworth. and 2 inLewisham. The mortality from diarrhcea and enteritis

among children under two years of age was proportionallygreatest in Hammersmith, Shoreditch, Bethnat Green,Islington, Stepney, Bermondsey, and Camberwell. In con-

clusion, it may be stated that the aggregate mortality inLondon during January from the principal infectiousdiseases, excluding diarrhoea, was 4’ 9 per cent. above theaverage.

THE SERVICES.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.Lieutenant-Colonel David V. O’Connell is placed on retired

pay (dated Feb. 13th, 1913).Major Charles W. H. Whitestone to be Lieutenant-Colonel,

vice D. V. O’Connell (dated Feb. 13th, 1913).The undermentioned to be Lieutenants (on probation)

(dated Jan. 24th, 1913) :-Sumner Hugh Smith, FrancisJames Cairns, Henry Beddingfield, Frederick ChurchillDavidson, John Forbes O’Connell, William Ormsby WyndhamBall (late Cadet, Dublin University Contingent, Officers

Training Corps), John Crocket, Humfrey Newnham Sealy,John Rowe, Stanley Dermott Large (late Cadet, EdinburghUniversity Contingent, Officers Training Corps), -EdwardCharles Beddows, George Eldridge Dyas (late Cadet, Inns ofCourt, Officers Training Corps), Arthur Hamilton Bridges,Conyngham Vernon Thornton, Cyril Helm (late Cadet,London University Contingent, Officers Training Corps),William Pennefather Croker (late Cadet, Dublin UniversityContingent, Officers Training Corps), Lieutenant AubreyGardner Brown (from the Royal Army Medical Corps SpecialReserve), Percival Dillon Warburton, Robert Hemphill, andAlbert Jackson.

Lieutenant James B. A. Wigmore, from the Seconded List,is restored to the establishment (dated Feb. 1st, 1913).The undermentioned Lieutenants are seconded under the

provisions of Article 300, Royal Warrant for Pay and Pro-motion, 1909 (dated Jan. 24th, 1913) : Francis J. Cairns,George E. Dyas, and Percival D. Warburton.

Surgeon-General H. G. Hathaway has taken up duty asDeputy Director of Medical Services in India on transferfrom the Half-pay List of the Home Establishment.

Lieutenant-Colonel J. B. Wilson, senior medical ofEcer andcommanding No. 29 Company of the Royal Army MedicalCorps at Jamaica, has been selected for the increased rate ofpay under Article 317 of the Royal Warrant for Promotion.Lieutenant-Colonel B. Forde has been transferred from theAldershot Command to the Southern Command, and ap-pointed to the Salisbury Plain District to hold charge of theMilitary Hospital at Bulford Camp. Lieutenant-Colonel E.

Eckersley, lately Deputy Assistant Director-General, MedicalDivision, War Office, has embarked for a tour of service withthe Southern Army in India. Lieutenant-Colonel M. P. C.Holt, D.S.O., Honorary Surgeon to the Viceroy and Governor-General of the East Indies, has been granted an extension ofhis command of the Station Hospital at Kasauli to Septembernext.’ Major J. H. R. Bond has taken over charge of theMilitary Hospital at Naini Tal. Major H. M. Nicholls has

arrived home on leave of absence from India. Major B. R.Dennis has been appointed for duty in the London District.Major A. R. O’Flaherty has left the Military Hospital atDevonport for a tour of service in India. Major H. K.Palmer has joined at Aden. Major W. M. Power has arrivedhome from Jamaica, tour expired. Major E. P. Connolly hasbeen appointed to the Military Hospital at Rawal PindiCantonment. Major E. W. W. Cochrane has arrived home,tour expired. Major E. McDonnell has been appointed forduty to the Eastern Command. Major F. W. Begbie hastaken over command of the Station Hospital at KampteeCantonment. Major H. Ensor, D.S.O., has been appointedRegistrar at the Royal Herbert Hospital, Woolwich. MajorT. H. M. Clarke, C.M.G., D.S.O., has taken up duty asSurgeon and Physician to the Royal Hospital at Kilmainham,Dublin, and Medical Officer, Royal Hibernian School. MajorR. F. M. Fawcett, on arrival in Ireland from Jhansi Canton-ment, India, has been placed under orders for duty in theDublin District.

Captain C. Scaife has been transferred from the MilitaryHospital at Colaba, Bombay, to Belgaum Cantonment.

Captain A. A. Sutcliffe has taken up duty at Newport ontransfer from the Military Hospital at Chester. Captain A.Dawson and Captain V. C. Honeybourne, serving at Aden,have been placed under orders for duty on board the trans-port s.s. Rewa, which left Karachi for Southampton onFeb. 12th with time-expired troops. Captain J. C. Hart hasarrived home for duty from North China. Captain J. H. Gurleyhas been selected for appointment as Specialist in Ophthal-mology to the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley. CaptainA. S. Williams has been transferred from the Military Hos-pital at Khanspur, Murree Hills District, to NowsheraCantonment. Captain F. B. Dalgliesh has taken up duty atthe Military Hospital, Jubbulpore. Captain F. D. G.Howell has arrived home from India for duty, tour expired.Captain C. Kelly has been appointed to the EasternCommand. Captain H. S. Dickson has arrived home onleave of absence from Gibraltar. Captain A. E. S. Irvinehas embarked on board the transport s.s. Rohilla for duty onthe voyage to South Africa and back. Captain C. H.O’Rorke has been transferred from the Military Hospital atRoorkee to Allahabad Cantonment for duty. Captain J. B.Hanafin has taken up duty at the Military Hospital,Nowshera, on transfer from Peshawar Cantonment. CaptainJ. C. L. Hingston has been placed under orders for transfer

560

from the Ninth (Secunderabad) Division of the SouthernArmy in India to Burma, and on arrival will be

appointed Specialist in Dermatology and Venereal Diseasesto the Burma Division. Captain J. A. Renshaw hasbeen granted six months’ leave of absence home fromIndia. Captain J. F. Granted has taken up duty as Specialistin Electrical Science to the Burma Division at Head-quarters, Maymyo Cantonment. Captain L. Wood has been

appointed to hold charge of the Military Hospital at Hydera-bad, Sindh. Captain A. S. Littlejohns has arrived home forduty from South Africa, tour expired. Captain J. J. O’Keefe,on arrival in India for a tour of service, has been appointedto the Seventh (Meerut) Division of the Southern Army.Captain F. Forrest has joined the Irish Command. CaptainA. R. Wright has arrived home on leave of absence from theMilitary Hospital at Malta. Captain G. P. A. Bracken hasbeen granted six months’ leave of absence home from India.Captain E. C. Caddell has taken up duty at Brigade Head-quarters, Karachi, as Specialist in charge of the Bacterio-logical Research Laboratory.

Lieutenant J. S. Levack has been transferred from the

Military Hospital at York to Bradford for duty. LieutenantW. T. Graham has taken up duty at the Military Hospital,

Tidworth, Salisbury Plain, on transfer from Durrington.Lieutenant P. Hayes has embarked for a tour of service inIndia. Lieutenant W. L. Webster has been transferred fromKilworth Camp to Limerick.

INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE.Colonel R. B. Roe has taken up duty as Assistant Director

of Medical Services to the Sirhind and Jullundur Brigades,Third (Lahore) Division, in succession to Colonel R. W. S.Lyons, transferred to Divisional Headquarters.

Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Castor has arrived home onleave of absence from India. The services of Lieutenant-Colonel W. D. Sutherland have been placed temporarily atthe disposal of the Government of Bengal Presidency foremployment on special duty at the Medical College, Calcutta.Lieutenant-Colonel J. C. Hulbert has been transferred fromthe Central Research Institute at Kasauli on completion ofspecial duty to Mutha. Lieutenant-Colonel H. S. Wood,civil surgeon at Rajshahi, has been granted privilege leaveof absence.

Major W. R. Battye, residency surgeon at Mewar, has beengranted privilege leave of absence. Major T. Jackson has beenselected for appointment to the Medical Council in Bombay.Major H. Ainsworth, on return from furlough, has taken upduty as Professor of Ophthalmic Surgery at the GovernmentMedical College, Lahore, relieving Lieutenant-Colonel E. V.Hugo of the additional charge. Major G. Browse has beengranted an extension of his leave of absence home fromIndia by the Secretary of State Major C. H. Watson hastaken up duty as Staff-Surgeon at Headquarters of the

Derajat Brigade. Major S. H. Burnett has been selected forappointment as Superintendent of the Lunatic Asylum atColaba, Bombay.

Captain D. G. R. S. Baker has been appointed Specialistin Ophthalmic Surgery. Captain F. C. Fraser has taken upduty under the Civil Administration in Madras Presidency.Captain C. H. Barber has been granted one year’s extensionof leave of absence on medical certificate. Captain S. H.Middleton West has arrived home on leave of absence fromIndia. Captain R. T. Wells has taken up duty as Super-intendent of the District Jail at Dera Ghazi Khan, insuccession to Captain H. C. Keates. Captain N. W.Mackworth, officiating civil surgeon at Purnea, hasbeen granted privilege leave of absence combined withstudy leave and furlough home from India for 15months. Captain A. N. Thomas has been appointedto the substantive medical charge of the 105th MahrattaLight Infantry. Captain F. A. Barker has joinedthe Jail Department in the Punjab for temporary duty.Captain W. D. Keyworth has taken over officiating medicalcharge of the 110th Mahratta Light Infantry. CaptainW. T. Finlayson has arrived home on leave of absence fromIndia. Captain A. M. Jukes has taken up duty as officiatingDeputy Sanitary Commissioner in the Metropolitan Circle,Calcutta. Captain N. M. Wilson has taken up duty asPlague Medical Officer at Shahpur. Captain J. M. A.MacMillan, civil surgeon at Hoshangabad, has been trans-ferred temporarily to Jubbulpore on relief by Captain E. P.Wernicke.

Lieutenant V. P. Norman has been granted six months’

extension of his leave of absence home from India on therecommendation of a medical board.

SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.

Royal Army Medical Corps.Captain Wilson Ranson is seconded for service with the

Territorial Force (dated Feb. 8th, 1913).The undermentioned Lieutenants to be Captains (dated

Feb. llth, 1913): William Darling and John M. Darling.The undermentioned Lieutenants are confirmed in theirrank : Henry B. Parker and Robert D. Goldie.

TERRITORIAL FORCE.

Royal Army Medical Corps.Notts and Derby Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance,

Royal Army Medical Corps : The undermentioned officers,from the list of officers attached to units other than medicalunits, to be Captains (dated Feb. 15th, 1913): CaptainAlexander Tydd Mulhall and Captain Francis RaymondMitchell Heggs.

Supernumerary for Service 7vith the Offleers TrainingCorps.-Lieutenant (Provisional Captain) Robert Davies-

Colley (serving with the University of London Contingent,Senior Division, Officers Training Corps) resigns his com.mission (dated Feb. 19th, 1913).Por attachment to Units other than Medical Units.-

John Orlando Summerhayes (late Lieutenant, 4th Battalion,The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry) to beLieutenant (dated Feb. 8th, 1913).Major R. J. Blackham, R.A.M.C., who has been associated

with Colonel Roberts, I.M.S., in the treatment of HisExcellency the Viceroy of India since the outrage at Delhion Dec. 23rd, has been appointed Honorary Surgeon onHis Excellency’s Personal Staff.

Correspondence.WEISMANN AND LAMARCKISM.

I I Audi alteram partem."

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-In THE LANCET of Nov. 30th last there is a statementto the effect that Dr. A. M. Gossage at a meeting of theHarveian Society on Nov. 21st, read a paper on Heredity, inwhich the assertion was made by him that Lamarckism, orthe inheritance of acquired characters, must be regarded asdisproved by the work of Weismann." But is that really so ?,)and is the assertion by Dr. Gossage the result of an investi-gation by him of the teachings of Lamarck, or is it an asser-tion based on the ipse dixits of sundry biologists who fail torecognise the true teachings of Lamarck ? I raise the ques-tion since I feel assured that to the physician will fall theduty, not alone of demonstrating the truths of Lamarckism,but also of bringing out of chaos the true factors at work inorganic evolution and in heredity. Undoubtedly the work ofWeismann is most important, since to him fell the rôle of

demonstrating, once for all, how heredity is carried on andmaintained in the organic world. But far from disprovingthe transmission of acquired characters, his work reallycleared the way for the true understanding as to why andhow acquired characters are transmitted.What did Weismann really duo ? t Following the sugges-

tions of Nussbaum, he laid the foundation of his fame

by demonstrating the continuity of the germ-plasm. He

proved how. after division and subdivision of the zygoteor fertilised egg, a colony of cells is formed out ofwhich one only of the colony ultimately develops intoa new organism ; the other cells of the colony remain-ing undeveloped, constituting the germ-plasm, whichbecomes, in time, the sexual cells of the fully developednew organism. Hence the new organism becomes, as it

were, a brother or sister of the previous organism, and nota son or daughter. This is, as I have said, the theory ofthe continuity of the germ-plasm on which the real fame ofWeismann rests, and when we fully understand the process,we begin to realise the wonderful provision made by naturein order to secure that heredity shall be a process of truerepetition of necessary characters. But Weismann, notcontent with demonstrating the continuity of the germ-plasm, went further and maintained that the germ-plasm