1620 VITAL STATISTICS.-THE SERVICES.

and Paisley, to 22’ 5 in Dundee and 27’ 8 in Aberdeen. The604 deaths in the eight ’towns showed a decline of 49from the number returned in the previous week and included61 which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases,which were fewer by nine than those returned in the pre-vious week. These 61 deaths were equal to an annual rateof 1. 8 per 1000, and exceeded by 0’4 the rate from thesame diseases in the 76 English towns ; they included 22which were referred to diarrhoea, 16 to whooping-cough, 11to measles, seven to " fever," three to diphtheria, two toscarlet fever, and not one to small-pox. The 22 deathsreferred to diarrhoea were fewer by four than those returnedin the previous weeks, and included eight in Glasgow, fourin Dundee, and three both in Paisley and Greenock. Thefatal cases of whooping-cough showed an increase of threeabove the number in each of the two previous weeks ; 14 ofthese occurred in Glasgow and two in Aberdeen. Of the11 deaths from measles seven were returned in Aberdeenand two in Leith. The fatal cases of scarlet feverand diphtheria were fewer than in any recent week.Of the seven deaths referred to "fever" six occurred inGlasgow, of which four were certified as cerebro-spinalfever ; and a fatal case of the latter disease was re-

turned in Edinburgh. The deaths in the eight townsreferred to diseases of the respiratory organs, includingpneumonia, which had increased from 94 to 139 in the fourpreceding weeks, further rose last week to 145, but were onebelow the number returned in the corresponding week of lastyear. The causes of 34, or 5’ 6 per cent., of the deathsregistered during the week were not certified ; the mean

proportion of uncertified deaths in the 76 English townsduring the same week did not exceed 1 - 0 per cent.

HEALTH OF DUBLIN.

The annual death-rate in Dublin, which had been

equal to 25’ 6 and 23 8 per 1000 in the two precedingweeks, was again 23 8 in the week ending Dec. lst.During the first nine weeks of the current quarter thedeath-rate in the city averaged 24’3 per 1000, the meanrate during the same period being only 14.5 in Londonand 15 ’5 in Edinburgh. The 173 deaths of Dublinresidents during the week under notice correspondedwith the number in the previous week, and included 16which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases,against 14 and 19 in the two preceding weeks ; these 16deaths were equal to an annual rate of 2. 2 per 1000,against 1. 0 and 0’ 9 respectively from the same diseases inLondon and Edinburgh. These 16 deaths in Dublin lastweek included four from diarrhoea, three from "fever,’three from whooping-cough, three from scarlet fever, twcfrom diphtheria, and not one from small-pox. The fata’.cases of measles and of diarrhoea showed a decline froirrecent weekly numbers, whereas those of "fever," whooping-cough, and diarrhoea were more numerous. Tbrel

inquest cases and three deaths from violence were registered; and 72, or 41.6 per cent., of the deaths occurre(in public institutions. The causes of six, or 3’ 5 pecent., of the deaths registered during the week were nocertified ; the percentage of uncertified causes of deat]

during the same week did not exceed 1 .0 in London, whilit was so high as 6’ 5 in Edinburgh.

THE SERVICES.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.Lieutenant-Colonel Cathcart Garner retires on retired pay

(dated Dec. 5th, 1906).ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS IN INDIA.

The undermentioned officers are permitted to continue intheir appointments of specialists in the subject noted. Pre-vention of Disease: Major 0. R. A. Julian (Peshawar),Major W. J. Taylor (Kamptee), Major J. B Anderson

(Meerut), Captain W. M. H. Spiller (Allahabad), CaptainA. B. Smallman (Secunderabad), Captain J. H. Brunskill(Rangoon), and Lieutenant D. P. Watson (Karachi).The undermentioned officer is appointed a Specialist in

Prevention of Disease from the date he takes over charge :Captain P. S. Lelean (Bareilly).

Captain J. F. Martin, on transfer from Northern Com-mand to Western Command, is posted to 6th (Poona)Division. Lieutenant H. G. Sherren on arrival from

England is posted to 6th (Poona) Division. Captain M. C.Beatty is transferred from 5th (Mhow) Division to 6th(Poona) Division. Captain A. J. Williamson is transferredfrom 4th (Quetta) Division to Aden Brigade. LieutenantS. C. Bowle is transferred from 5th (Mhow) Division, to6th (Poona) Division. Lieutenant P. Dwyer is transferredfrom 6th (Poona) Division to 5th (Mhow) Division. MajorR. C. Lewis returned to Bareilly from Meerut on arrival ofLieutenant-Colonel T. B. Winter from special duty, Simla,Sept. 23rd, 1906. Major Mould is ordered to Meerut for dutyon the closing of hill depots. Captain Waters is ordered toMeerut on the closing of hill depots. Captain Grech isordered to Meerut on the closing of hill depots. CaptainF. G. C. Heffernan is ordered to Lucknow in place of

Captain Maurice. Captain G. T. K. Maurice is ordered toMeerut for permanent duty. Major H. W. Austin is trans-ferred from Quetta to Karachi. Captain J. Dorgan proceededto England as tour expired on Nov. 2nd, 1906. CaptainF. E. Rowan-Robinson returned to Colaba from privilegeleave on Oct. 24th, 1906. Captain G. A. K. H. Reed re-turned to Nowgong from leave on private affairs on

Nov. lst. 1906. Captain J. G. Bell returned to Jhansi fromleave on private affairs on Nov. 2nd, 1906. LieutenantF. H. Noke proceeded from Poona with. the Hathawayambulance wagon to Meerut on Nov. lst, 1906.Exchanges have been sanctioned between Lieutenant-

Colonel C. E. Faunce, now on leave in England, and Lieu-tenant-Colonel H. S. McGill, with effect from the date of thelatter officer’s arrival in India ; and between Major F. A.Symons, now on leave in England, and Major F. W. Begbie,with effect from Nov. 14th, 1906.The following officers have been struck off the strength of

the Indian establishment :-Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Faunce,Major F. A. Symons, Captain T. J. Potter, and CaptainP. H. Henderson.The following Royal Army Medical Corps officers have

been detailed for duty in the transports stated : Lieutenant-Colonel D. M. O’Callaghan and Lieutenant-Colonel R. L. R.Macleod, Captain H. G. Martin and Captain A. W. Hooper,and Lieutenant G. W. W. Ware on the Rewa, which leftEngland on Oct. 19th, 1906. Lieutenant-Colonel H. P. G.Elkington and Lieutenant-Colonel T. J. R. Lucas, and Lieu-tenant A. E. F. Hastings and Lieutenant J. S. Dunne onthe Assaye, leaving England on Nov. 7th, 1906. Lieutenant-Colonel E. Eckersley, in medical charge of 8th transportRen’a, sailing from Bombay on Jan. 17th, 1907. MajorJ. W. Jennings, for duty on llth transport Plassy, sailingfrom Bombay on March 6th, 1907.

Captain D. J. F. O’Donoghue embarked for England onOct. llth, 1906, on six months’ medical certificate leave.Major W. T. Mould has been granted general leave on privateaffairs to England from Oct. 23rd, 1906, to April 4th, 1907.

ARMY MEDICAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.

A Royal Warrant, dated Oct. 23rd, has been issued con-taining revised regulations respecting appointment to the,

Army Medical Reserve of Officers. Commissions as lieu-tenants in the Army Medical Reserve may in future be givento persons, not over 30 years of age, who may be dulyqualified under regulations approved by the Army Council.The ranks of officers of the Army Medical Reserve will bethose ot captain and lieutenant, and the total period ofservice in the Reserve will be limited to seven years. Onthe completion of three and a half years’ service a lien-tenant will be eligible for promotion to the rank of captain, .

if recommended for that rank. Appointments to commis-sions will be made on probation and persons so appointedwill undergo an initial training of two months, on theexpiration of which, should their work and conduct be con-sidered satisfactory, their commissions will be confirmed.Officers of the reserve before promotion to the rank ofcaptain will fulfil such conditions as the Army Council maydetermine, and will undergo one month’s further training.When called to army service, or while undergoing training,officers of the reserve will receive the pay and allowancesof officers of similar rank in the Royal Army MedicalCorps. After the first year’s service an officer will, in addi-tion to any such pay and allowances for days of actualservice, receive pay at the rate of E20 a year. This rate willbe increased to Z25 a year if the officer is promoted to therank of captain. Officers of the Army Medical Reserve,constituted by this Warrant, will be liable to be called toarmy service at home or abroad at a time of emergency,

1621THE STUDY OF THE STREPTOCOCCI PATHOGENIC IN MAN.

and will also be subject to the general regulations applic-able to Army Reserve officers so far as such regulations donot conflict with those laid down in this Warrant. The sumof £5 will be allowed towards the provision of uniform. Wewish that we could consider that the Royal Warrant, thenature and terms of which are here set forth, is altogethercalculated to fulfil its object in view, which is reallyone of national importance, especially in the case of war,for which eventuality all the arrangements for the ex-

pansion of the medical service in this respect require to bethoroughly thought out beforehand.

VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Royal, Garrison Artillery (Volunteers) : lst Edinburgh(City) : Surgeon-Lieutenant A. M. Mclntosh to be Surgeon-Captain (dated Sept. 21st, 1906).Rifle: 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the Northumberland

Fusiliers: Surgeon-Lieutenant Colonel and Honorary Surgeon-Colonel A. Wilson is borne as supernumerary whilst holdingthe appointment of Brigade-Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel,Senior Medical Officer, Tyne Volunteer Infantry Brigade(dated June lst, 1906). 2nd Volunteer Battalion, the PrinceAlbert’s (Somersetshire Light Infantry) : Surgeon-CaptainJ. G. Bain resigns his commission (dated Nov. 14th, 1906).lst (City of Bristol) Volunteer Battalion, the GloucestershireRegiment: Supernumerary Surgeon-Major A. W. Prichard(Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Coionel, Senior Medical Officer,Portland Volunteer Infantry Brigade) to be Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel (dated Nov. 9th, 19C6). 3rd VolunteerBattalion, the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment):Surgeon-Lieutenant A. Waugh to be Surgeon-Captain (datedNov. 2nd, 1906). 3rd Volunteer Battalion, the SouthStaffordshire Regiment : Surgeon-Major C. A. MacMunn isseconded whilst holding the appointment of Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel, Senior Medical Officer, StaffordshireVolunteer Infantry Brigade (dated June lst, 1906). lstVolunteer Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales’s (RoyalBerkshire Regiment) : Surgeon-Lieutenant W. M. Parham tobe Surgeon-Captain (dated Oct. 28th, 1906). lst VolunteerBattalion, the King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry) :Surgeon-Major E. Lee i, seconded whilst holding the

appointment of Brigade-Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel, SeniorMedical Officer, Humber Volunteer Infantry Brigade (datedJune lst, 1906), lst Volunteer Battalion, the King’s(Shropshire Light Infantry) : Surgeon-Major and HonorarySargeon-Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Packer, to be Surgeon-

. Lieutenant-Colonel (dated Oct. 20th, 1906). 1st VolunteerBittalion, the Durham Light Infantry : Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel and Honorary Surgeon Colonel J. W. Blandford ist orne as supernumerary whilst holding the appointment ofBrigade Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel, Senior Medical Officer,Tees Volunteer Infantry Brigade (dated June lst, 1906).

VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION.The annual competition for the Maclure Challenge Shield

took place on Dec. lst. 17 squads competed representingthe Imperial Yeomanry, Infantry and Royal Army MedicalCorps of the Volunteers of the London district and EasternCommand. The subjects were Ambulance Drill, Roller

Bandaging, Hospital Duties, and the Sanitation of Camps,the competition being confined to those non-commissionedofficers and men who had already obtained the ArmyAmbulance certificate. The shield was won by thefirst squad of lst Cadet Battalion of the King’s RoyalRifles which made 522 marks out a possible 600. Thesecond squad of the same corps made 498 marks and

gained the second place. The Senior Medical Officer’sCup was won by Sergeant F. W. B. Carter of the same corps,with 142 marks out of 160. Surgeon-Lieutenant-ColonelR. R. Sleman, in the unavoidable absence of Surgeon-ColonelP. B. Giles, Senior Medical Officer, thanked the large staff ofexaminers present and announced that Lieutenant-GeneralW. H. Douglas, C.B., Adjutant General, would inspect theschool and present the prizes on Dec. 12tb.

THE MORAL WELFARE OF THE SOLDIER.We have always advocated elementary military train-

ing with rifle shooting in our schools, not only becauseit is calculated to impress boys with a sense of theduty which they owe to their country in case of need,hut because it is, as we believe, good for them mentally,morally, and hygienically. We may infer from what he hassaid that Mr. Haldar e is very much of the same opirion andthat he might hc1’ had this, among other things, inMind in staung a, little time ago that the army problem

had to be studied in its social and non-military as well asits military aspects. If so Mr. Birrell did not apparentlyconcur in that but in the opposite view, for, politicallyspeaking, he withdrew any seeming assent which he mayhave previously given to the introduction of rifle practice inschools. We are not by any means alone in holding thatthe feeling of responsibility and comradeship and the alert-ness of mind and habits of intelligent obedience acquiredby the young in undergoing an elementary course of militarytraining are very favourable aids to the spiritual andmoral welfare of the future man, and the promotion ofwhich so far as the British soldier is concerned is now

engaging the attention of a War Office Advisory Committee.FEVER AT PESHAWAR.

It is reported from India that there has been quite anunusual amount of sickness among troops in the Peshawardivision. The proposed manoeuvres have had, therefore, tobe abandoned. The sickness is stated to be caused largelyby an outbreak of malarial fever of a severe type with whicharmy medical officers were familiar, for it was at one time offrequent occurrence in that command but until the presentoccasion has not been so prevalent of late years.A new water bottle has been invented by Major Faicbnie,

R.A.M.C., which the War Office has accepted for test by theExperimental Committee.A senior medical officers’ class in bacteriology and tropical

diseases for six officers only is to be held at Haslar Hospital,beginning on Dec. 5th.

Correspondence."Audi alteram partem."

THE STUDY OF THE STREPTOCOCCIPATHOGENIC IN MAN.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,—Some reply seems demanded by the letter fromDr. F. J. Poynton and Dr. A. Paine in the corre-

spondence column of THE LANCET of Dec. 1st, p. 1539,criticising a recent contribution which you publishedfor us. We therefore ask your leave to offer a fewshort remarks, though it is not our wish to enter hereupon any controversy as to the bacteriology of rheumatism.In our article on the pathogenic streptococci we dealt withacute rheumatism at no great length because it was only acorner of the field which we had endeavoured to cover. The

space at our disposal was quite insufficient for the adequatediscussion of so important a matter. We confined ourselvesto a brief statement of our own observations with a fewwords of criticism on the " diplococcus rheumaticus."As regards malignant endocarditis Dr. Poynton and Dr.

Paine have put into our mouths a general statement which areference to our article will show that we never made. In

referring to the commonest form of malignant endocarditis,chronic in course and insidious in onset, we stated thatour observations tended to show that these cases have nothingto do with rheumatism, &c. We did not intend to suggestthat malignant endocarditis never has anything to do withactive rheumatism. We are well aware that it sometimeshas a direct connexion, but it happened that this was not soin the particular series of cases we examined ; where arheumatic history was present it was more or less remote.The head and front of our cffending seems to be that we .have identified the examples of the "diplococcus rheu-maticus" which have come into our hands with certaincommon saprophytic streptococci of the gut or mouth. Sinceour paper was pubished we have received from Dr. Forbes astreptococcus which he had just isolated from a necropsyon a case of rheumatic fever at the Great Ormond-streetHospital. This, too, proves identical in its reactions withone of the commoner intestinal streptococci found byHouston.The position of Dr. Povnton and Dr Paine hinges largely

upon the specificity of their diplococcus. In common withmany other bacteriologists we au nut consider this specificityproven. No characters have ever been published by whichthe diplococcus can be recognised, so that we have been incomplete ignorance as to its distribution in nature. The sole