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University College, Dublin, and the Catholic University GSchool of Medicine, both of which have a predominant tinfluence in all the examinations of the University. !

Dr. McKeown brought his two motions before the members 1of the Senate on Feb. 8th at their meeting, when after a dis- (

cussion a committee was appointed to examine the financial <

state of the University with the view of ascertaining how far I

it would be possible and desirable to appoint additional and I

extern examiners. Subsequently all the old Fellows andexaminers in the Faculty of Medicine were re-appointed, withthe addition of Professor Lindsay (Belfast) in medicine and IProfessor W. N. Thompson (Belfast) in physiology.

VITAL STATISTICS.

HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.

IN 33 of the largest English towns 7084 births and5387 deaths were registered during the week endingFeb. 24th. The annual rate of mortality in these towns,which had increased from 21’2 to 25 per 1000 in the threepreceding weeks, declined again to 24’2 last week. InLondon the rate was 21-5 per 1000, while it averaged25 9 in the 32 provincial towns. The lowest death-rates inthese towns were 9’9 in Croydon, 13 7 in Cardiff, 16 9 inBirkenhead, and 17’6 in West Ham ; the highest rates were37 in Blackburn, 39-0 in Salford, 40’7 in Wolverhampton,and 44-7 in Preston. The 5387 deaths in these towns in-cluded 444 which were referred to the principal zymoticdiseases, against numbers increasing from 428 to 469in the three preceding weeks ; of’ these 120 resultedfrom whooping-cough, 115 from measles, 92 from diph-theria, 47 from "fever" (principally enteric), 40 fromdiarrhoea, and 30 from scarlet fever. No fatal case of anyof these diseases occurred last week in Brighton ; in theother towns they caused the lowest death-rates in Swansea,Birkenhead, Halifax, and Gateshead, and the highest ratesin Wolverhampton, Blackburn, Preston, and Sheffield. Thegreatest mortality from measles occurred in Wolverhampton,Leicester, Preston, and Sunderland; from whooping-coughin Portsmouth, Norwich, Salford, and Leeds ; and from"fever" in Wolverhampton. The mortality from scarletfever showed no marked excess in any of the large towns.The 92 deaths from diphtheria included 48 in London, 10 inSheffield, six in Liverpool, and four in Portsmouth. Nofatal case of small-pox was registered last week in anyof the 33 large towns, but 11 small-pox patients were

under treatment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals onSaturday last, Feb. 24th, and three new cases were admittedduring the week. The number of scarlet fever patients in thesehospitals and in the London Fever Hospital at the end of theweek was 2009, against numbers decreasing from 3578 to 2052on the 14 preceding Saturdays ; 160 new cases were

admitted during the week, against 174, 157, and 159 inthe three preceding weeks. Influenza was certified as the

primary cause of 52 deaths in London. The deathsreferred to diseases of the respiratory organs in London,which had been 423 and 527 in the two preceding weeks,declined again last week to 485, and were 62 belowthe corrected average. The causes of 67, or 1’2 per cent., ofthe deaths in the 33 towns were not certified either by aregistered medical practitioner or by a coroner. All thecauses of death were duly certified in Bristol, Nottingham,Leeds, and in 10 other smaller towns; the largestproportions of uncertified deaths were registered in Liver-pool, Manchester, Blackburn, Halifax, and Sheffield.

HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.

The annual rate of mortality in the eight Scotch towns,which had risen from 23’0 to 31-0 per 1000 in thesix preceding weeks, further increased to 31’7 during theweek ending Feb. 24th, and exceeded by 7’5 per 1000 themean rate during the same period in the 33 large Englishtowns. The rates in the eight Scotch towns ranged from15’2 in Leith and 24 7 in Aberdeen to 391 in Dundeeand 62’4 in Perth. The 981 deaths in these towns included19 which were referred to diarrhoea, 17 to measles, 17 to

whooping-cough, nine to scarlet fever, five to diphtheria, andtwo to "fever." In all 69 deaths resulted from theseprincipal zymotic diseases, against 61 and 82 in thetwo preceding weeks. These 69 deaths were equal to an

annual rate of 2-3 per 1000. which was 0’3 per 1000 abovethe mean rate last week from the same diseases in the33 large English towns. The fatal cases of diarrhoea,which had increased from eight to 20 in the three pre-ceding weeks, declined again to 19 last week, and includedeight in Glasgow, four in Abercleen, and three in Edinburgh.The deaths from measles, which had been 19 and 24 inthe two preceding weeks, declined again last week to17, of which nine occurred in Glasgow, five in Dundee,and three in Paisley. The fatal cases of whooping.cough, which had risen from eight to 18 in the five pre.ceding weeks, decreased again to 17 last week, and includednine in Glasgow, three in Aberdeen, and three in Perth. Thedeaths referred to scarlet fever, which had been three and11 in the two preceding weeks, declined again last week tonine, of which five were registered in Glasgow, two inEdinburgh, and two in Paisley. The fatal cases of diph.theria, which had been seven in the preceding week, de.creased to five last week and were all recorded in Glasgow.The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory organs inthese towns, which had increased from 172 to 325 in the.four preceding weeks, further rose to 362 last week, and were129 above the number in the corresponding period of lastyear. The causes of 42, or more than 4 per cent., of thedeaths in these eight towns last week were not certified.

HEALTH OF DUBLIN.

The death-rate in Dublin, which had been 29’7 and434 per 1000 in the two preceding weeks, further rose to510 during the week ending Feb. 24th. During the pastfour weeks the death-rate in the city has averaged 36’7 per1000, the rate during the same period being 21’1 in Londonand 26-7 in Edinburgh. The 342 deaths registered in Dublinduring the week under notice were 58 in excess of the numberin the preceding week, and included 11 which were referredto the principal zymotic diseases against 17 and 15 inthe two preceding weeks ; of these five resulted frommeasles, four from diarrhoea, one from scarlet fever, one

from "fever," and not one either from small-pox, diphtheria,or whooping-cougb. These 11 deaths were equal to anannual rate of 1’6 per 1000, the zymotic death-rate

during the same period being 1-8 in London and1-2 in Edinburgh. The deaths referred to measles,which had declined from 18 to one in the six precedingweeks, rose again last week to five. The fatal cases ofdiarrhoea, which had been two in each of the three

preceding weeks, increased to four last week. The

mortality from scarlet fever corresponded with that in thepreceding week, while that from fever" showed a decline.The 342 deaths in Dublin last week included 51 of infantsunder one year of age and 121 of persons aged upwards of60 years; the deaths of infants and elderly persons beingrespectively 11 and 40 in excess of the numbers in the

preceding week. Eight inquest cases and four deaths fromviolence were registered, and 182, or more than one-half, ofthe deaths occurred in public institutions. The causes of11, or more than 3 per cent., of the deaths in the city lastweek were not certified.

THE SERVICES.

ROYAL NAVY MEDICAL SERVICE.THE under-mentioned Surgeons have been promoted to the

rank of Staff Surgeon in Her Majesty’s Fleet :-JohnstonHamilton Acheson, John McElwee, D’Arcy Harvey, ReginaldThomas Alexander Levinge, John Christopher Ferguson, andEdward Pain Mourilyan.The following appointments are notified :-Surgeons :

J. P. H. Greenhalgh, lent to Royal Marine Infirmary; J. F. M.McDougall to the Rodney; and N. J. Roche to the Alexandra.

IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.The appointments of the undermenioned gentlemen as

Medical Officers, with the temporary rank of Captain, arecancelled :&mdash;H. Manders, M.D. (Major, lst VolunteerBattalion Princess Charlotte of Wales’s, Royal BerkshireRegimcnt); R. C. Dun, M.B. ; C. Smith, M.D. ; A. C. Fry,M.1;,.C.S. ; E. T. Vint, M.B. ; C. B. Howse, M.R.C.S.; andH. A. Lownds (Captain, 2nd Volunteer Battalion the Yorkand Lancaster Regiment). Francis Wellford, M.B. to beMedical Officer, with the temporary rank of Captain.

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ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORI’S.

Major M. T. Yarr has arrived at Portsmouth for duty.Brigade-Surgeon S. K. Ray, A.M.S., retired pay, has arrivedin the Eastern District for duty. Major John Semple retiresfrom the service receiving a gratuity. Lieutenant Douglashas left for South Africa.

ARMY MEDICAL RESl’JRVE OF OFFICERS.

Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel C. B. Stoney, having resigned.his Milit,ia appointment, ceases to belong to the ArmyMedical Reserve of Officers.

INDIA AND THE INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICES.

The Queen has approved of the retirement from theservice of the undermentioned officers: Lieutenant-ColonelWilliam Flood Murray, Bengal Establishment. Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew Duncan, Bengal Establishment. Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Fawcett, Madras Establishment.

VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Artillery 6th Lancashire : William Thomas rlackledgeto be Surgeon-Lieutenant. Royal Engi.-ncers : 2nd Cheshire(Railway) : Surgeon-Captain T. C. Bailey resigns his com-mission. Rifle: 2nd Volunteer Battalion the Queen’s (RoyalWest Surrey Regiment): Surgeon-Lieutenant P. D. Minchinto be Surgeon-Captain. 3rd Volunteer Battalion theNorthumberland Fnsiliers : Surgeon - Lieutenant W. H.Vickery to be Surgeon-Captain. lst Volunteer Battalionthe Essex Regiment : Surgeon-Lieutenant A. n. Harris

resigns his commission. 2nd Volunteer Battalion theQueen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) : George RobertFabris Stilwell, M.B., to be Surgeon-Lieutenant. 3rd (Sunder-land) Volunteer Battalion the Durham Light Infantry:Surgeon-Lieutenant J. C. Fenwick to be Surgeon-Captain.

TRANSVAAL WAR NOTES.The Chelsea Hospital for Women offers special facilities

for the gratuitous treatment of the wives of reservists

suffering from diseases which come within its province.The x ray apparatus, the gift of the Duke of Newcastle to

the Princess of Wales hospital ship, has proved of greatservice in locating the position of bullets in the wounded.The apparatus was supplied by Harry W. Cox, Limited, ofCursitor.street, W.C. The x ray apparatus on board the

Spartan and Trojan were also supplied by this firm.Captain G. S. Walker, R.A.M.C., died from enteric fever

at Ladysmith on Feb. 23rd.Captain Holt, R.A.M.C., died from wounds received during

Sir R. Buller’s operations at Modder river on Feb. 21st.Lieutenant Mackenzie, R.A.V1.C., was wounded in the

Koodoosberg reconnaissance on Feb. 7th.At a meeting held in Birmingham on Feb. 26th, a com-

mittee was formed to assist the general committee of theRoyal Army Medical Corps Fund in London. Mrs. Bennett

May and Mrs. Lloyd Owen were appointed hon. secretaries.Major G. E. Hale, R.A.M.C., D.S.O., has been appointed

by the War Office military commandant of the bearer com-pany in connexion with the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital.The medical staff of the Princess Christian Hospital left

Waterloo on Feb. 28th for Southampton, where they embarkon the Assaye for South Africa. The following is a com-plete list of the medical staff :-Major H. B. Mathias, D. S. 0.,R.A.N.C., the War Office representative, in command ; chiefsurgeon: Mr. J. Paul Bush; medical officers : Dr. G. V.

Worthington, Dr. E. A. Nathan, and Mr. A. T. Flemming ;dressers: Mr. A. B. Cridland and Mr. E. M. Pearse.The general committee of the Sick and Wounded Officers’

Surgical and Medical Aid Fund, of which the Duke ofAbercorn is president, have made arrangements whereby thebest professional advice will be at the service of officersreturning invalided from South Africa. Leading physiciansand surgeons have placed their services at the disposal of thecommittee, and numerous offers of hospitality to invalidsand convalescents have been received. Considerable fundswill be required to meet the expenses involved in skillednursing or special treatment over long periods and of costlysurgical appliances. Subscriptions should be sent to thehonorary treasurer, Hampden House, Green-street, W.The following surgeons have been appointed to serve with

the Welsh Hospital for South Africa :-Professor ThomasJones, F,R,C.S. Eng., Professor of Surgery, Owens College,Manchester, and surgeon to the Manchester Royal Infirmary ;Mr.J. Lynn Thomas, F.R.C.S. Eng., assistant surgeon to theCardiff Infirmary; and Mr. R. H. Mills-Roberts, F.R.C.S.Edin., surgeon to the Llanberis Quarries Hospital. AldermanSir David Evans has consented to act as treasurer to thehospital. Meetings are being held and local collections are

being made in different parts of Wales and in the large pro-vincial towns to press the claims of the hospital amongWelshmen. The committee desire that it should be knownthat the hospital is intended for the use of the Imperialtroops, irrespectively of nationality. A Welsh nationalconcert is to be given in aid of the funds at the Queen’sHall, London, on March 14th at which Mr. Ben Davies haskindly promised to sing.

Sin J. SiVEWMGHT’S AMBULANCE COUPS.Mr. Allan Johnson. one of the three British members of

the South African Medical Corps organised by Sir JamesSivewright for ambulance service with the Boers, sends tothe Turcs a fnll account of the remarkable adventures of thatexpedition. Although the Transvaal Government had wiredto Cape Town "politely but firmly" declining their servicesthey were induced to proceed to Delagoa Bay, where they hadan interview with Mr. Pott, the Transvaal Consul, who toldthem curtly that they were not wanted, declaring that therewere no wounded to require their care. Mr. Pott’s objectappears, however, to have been only to get rid of theBritish element in the corps. The Afrikander members,who had remained discreetly in the background so longas the corps had to deal with the British colonialauthorities at the Cape or at Durban, now claimed com-plete control over the expedition, and, in spite of theofficial refusal of the Transvaal Government to have

anything to do with the corps, they had no hesitationin accepting the friendly assurances of a Boer whom

they met " fortuitously " at Lorenzo Marques thattheir services, if volunteered not collectively but indi-

vidually, would be accepted. The British members

naturally regarded these strange developments with

suspicion, and, believing them to be at variance withSir James Mivewright’s intentions, as they undoubtedlywere at variance with the conditions under which the

expedition had been organised, Dr. Gray, the leader of theBritish section, sought to retain the equipment of the expedi-tion until Sir James Sivewright’s wishes had been elicited.Sir James, however, telegraphed that they were to be bandedover to the Afrikander leader, Dr. Xeethling, who pro-ceeded with the other Afrikanders under special passportsto Pretoria. Mr. Johnson says, in conclusion, it was clear"that while the Transvaal Government were quite willing toreceive any number of Afrikanders into their service theywould not look at an ambulance corps which includedBritishers, especially if these showed that they meant tostick tenaciously to their pledge to work for the wounded ofevery sort and race without prejudice in the interest ofhumanity alone."

ABMY MEDICAL SCHOOL, NETLEY.The eightieth session of the Army Medical School at Netley

commenced to-day, Friday, March 2nd. 35 surgeons onprobation (18 for the Indian Medical Service and 17 for theRoyal Army Medical Corps) will attend the session. The

following are correct lists of the surgeons on probation. Itis believed that a large number of probationers are to benominated for the Royal Army Medical Corps :-SURGEONS ON PROBATION, R.A.M.C. NAMES IN ORDER OR MERIT.

The following district order has been issued at Aldershot :"As the welfare of the patients in hospital is in a greatmeasure dependent on the class of men detailed for duty asorderlies thereto, the general commanding de&ograve;ires that thegreatest discrimination should be exercised in the selectionof these men and only those of good character and who canread and write are to be employed on this important duty."

THE LEGION OF HONOUR.We recently mentioned the names of Eeveral French

654

medical officers who were made members of the Legion ofHonour in recognition of their gallant services and we nowhave the pleasure of recording yet another addition to thedistinguished roll. By a presidential decree dated Dec. 24th,1899, Dr. Nestor L&eacute;once Parin, medical officer of the secondclass in the Navy, was promotecl to the grade of Chevalier ofthe Legion of Honour, the feat for which he obtained thereward being thus described: "At Tonkin, on Nov. 29th,1896, during the action of Pinh-Nan-Tai, Dr. Parin wentforward under a brisk fire in order to dress the wounds offour soldiers." The same gazette also records the advance-ment to the grade of Officer of M. Nicolas Ohalm&eacute;, apothecaryin chief to the Navy, with over 34 years’ service, inclusiveof five years and seven months afloat. The new officer’sknighthood dates from June, 1886.

Correspondence.

CLUB METHODS.

"Audi alteram partem."

C. SCOTT WATSON.

To t7te Etlitors of THE LANCET.

StRS,&mdash;Possibly the following experience of club methodswith their medical officers may be of sufficient interest towarrant its publication. I should first explain that theHand-in-Hand Benefit Society is a small local society whichpays its surgeons twice a year for work done in the same

way practically as the more widely-known National DepositSociety-namely, for visit and medicine 2s. 6d. consulta-tion and medicine Is. 6d. repetition of medicine, Is. AfterI took over this practice five years ago I was surprised tofind my payment at Christmas replaced to the extent of 5s.by a receipt for an honorary member’s subscription, and withthis a note from the secretary addressing me as 11 dearBrother" and simply asking for a receipt. There was neverat any time any request that I should become an honorarymember.For the first few years I made no objection, but once

when the payment for the half-year amounted to 78. 6d. Ideclined having this honour thrust upon me. At the end oflast year a payment of .Ells. was due to me and there cameback a cheque for 16s. and the usual receipt. I returned the

receipt and explained that I had no desire to become an

honorary member and pointed out that there was nothingin their rules making such a step necessary. I received areply saying that such a course was customary, but on myinsisting the payment was completed. Some days after-wards I received a letter, a copy of which is appended heretoas Enclosure A. My reply to this letter is also appended asEnclosure B. I do not think that any further comment isnecessary. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,

C. SCOTT WATSON.Parkside, Wonersh, Guildford, Feb. 24th, 1900.

ENCLOSURE A.]Hand-in-Hand Benefit Society,

17, Friary-street, Guildford,Feb. 14th. 1900.

DEAR SIR,-Your letters of Jan. 25th and Feb. 1st were duly laidbefore the committee of the above society on Tuesday last and I aminstructed by them to inform you that owing to your refusal to Dayhonorary subscription of 5s. your name is to be taken off the list ofthe societies’ surgeons from this date. Therefore, if you have anyaccount against the society from December. 1899, to Feb. 14th, 190?, Ishall be glad to receive same. Yours truly,Dr. Scott Watson. J. FOSTER, Secretary.P.S.-I may add that the agent of your district has been informed

that your name is taken off the surgeons’ list for the Wonershdistrict and another medical gentleman appointed.-J. F.

[ENCLOSURE B.]Parkside, Wonersh, Guildford, Feb. 17th. 1900.

SIR.-I am in receipt of the letter from your committee datedFeb. 14th. Of course, it is a matter of very little importance to mewhether my name is taken off the list of the society’s surgeons, butthe whole proceeding is so extraordinary that I desire to make thefollowing remarks on it to your committee.In the iirst place, there is no 1’1&Ucirc;e that a medical officer shall become

an honorary member, and it is distinctly wanting in ordinary courtesyto dock his Christmas payment of the subscription without even

asking his permission. Secondly, the subscription is nut a large sum,but it is 5 per cent. on a yearly payment of .65, an amount which Icertainly did not receive from the society last year and have, I think,very rarely received during the five years I have been here. Third,the members whom I have here are people who, if not in the Hand-in-1-to,iid, wuM cheerfully pay my ordinary lower fees of 2s. 6d. or 3s. 6d.per visit and from 2?. to 2 6il. for consultation and medicine at my

own house. I have taken the trouble to go over several half-yearstaken at random. lu one&mdash;the tirst haifof 187&mdash;I find that the patientsI >1.t,tl’nrlA&agrave; foi- you for cE4 7.<. would have me as private patientsS,(i (i Ox. 6(t. and clj1lally without anv had debts. In another half-year21s. for 28.’!.; in another J::2 9. for C3 78. 6cd., and so on.I want to show that your medical ofticers, if the are situated as

am, are doing you it distinct attrl suhsbtntial favour by attending yourmembers at the fees you pay. For the privilege of doing you thisfavour you charge them 5s. a year, and not only so but you stop thissum out of their payment for work done without even a "I>y yourleave," and if they object you take their names off the list of thesociety’s surgeons. Thts procedure is so curious that I propose to sendan account of it to Tor LAKCbT. 1 am, Sirs, yours truly,

Mr. J. Foster, C. SCOTT WATSONSecretary, Hand-in-Hand Benefit Society, Gllildforc1.

U. SCOTT WATSON.

"PRODROMAL RASHES IN MEASLES."To the Editurs of THE LANCET.

SIRS,&mdash;The writer of the interesting annotation on pro.dromal rashes in measles in TH LANCET of Feb. 24th is notquite accurate when he states that the question of theserashes does not appear to be even entertained in Englishworks. He will find that attention is drawn to the subjectboth in Dr. J. W. Moore’s "Eruptive and Continued Fevers"(p. 138) and in the "Manual of Infectious Diseases byDr. Washbourn and myself (pp. 96 and 167). Dr. DawsonWilliams also alludes to it in his article on Measlesin Dr. Clifford Allbutt’s "System of Medicine" vol. ii,,p. 111. In these books it is particularly stated thatthese rashes may lead to errors in diagnosis, and espe.cially to mistaking measles for scarlet fever. Secondly,Trousseau, before Henoch, appears to have been wellaware of these eruptions, as may be seen by referring to his" Clinical Medicine," vol. ii., p. 214, of the New SydenhamSociety’s Translations, where in mentioning the date of

appearance of the specific rash of measles he says: "I Iperceive, gentlemen, that I am causing you to take up anerroneous impiession ; I already hear some of you remindingme that I have several times shown you in our nursery wardsinfants in whom at the second day of the fever of measlessmall efflorescences were visible in situations where the skinwas hot and covered with perspiration. On the next day, orthe day after the next, there was scarcely a trace of theseefflorescences to be found."

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Homerton, Feb. 27tb, 19CO. E. W. GOODALL,E. W. GOODALL,

DESTRUCTION OF SUPERFLUOUS HAIRBY THE ROENTGEN RAYS.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRs,-Referring to some remarks I made at the meetingofthe Thames Valley Branch of the British Medical Associa.tion at Kingston-on-Thames on Nov. 15th, on the beneficialtherapeutic effects of the Roentgen rays on certain eruptionsof the skin, I can now say that those cases are all

doing well. In that of a woman, aged 33 years, who con-sulted me on Oct. 13th for a growth on each side of thechin of about 30 dark hairs about from half to three-

quarters of an inch long, I administered seven exposuresof the x rays, with the result that she had slightdermatitis, which got well in about a fortnight. All the hairshave disappeared and show no signs of return. I also hadopportunities of seeing a case from the London Skin Hos-pital, Fitzroy-square, of a young girl, aged 23 years, withnumerous dark hairs, which had grown freely on both sidesof the face, after 18 exposures, had slight dermatitis and ina month after the last exposure the hairs had completelydisappeared. Much care has to be exercised in the lengthof time of exposure and the number of exposures andregulation of ampere metres in the treatment of these cases.Two other ladies since, one 25 and one 27 years of age,

have had six and seven exposures successively and the skinshows slight electrical dermatitis, with the same successfulresults. The roots and sheath, when examined micro-scopically, show a drying up of the hair bulb and rootsheath. The exposures in all these instances are less thannoted by Dr. Neville Wood in his interesting article on acase reported by him in THE LANCET of Jan. 27th. Iopine that we are in a position to say that we now have avery useful method of treatment in these hitherto trouble-some growths of hair and an improvement on the tediousmethod of destruction by electrolysis.

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,Jan. 30th, 19CO. JAMES STARTIN.JAMES STARTIN.