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number of scarlet fever cases in these hospitals and in theLondon Fever Hospital at the end of last week was 2628,against 2839, 2734, and 2689 at the end of the three pre-ceding weeks; 273 new cases were admitted during the week,against 283, 281, and 274 in the three preceding weeks. Thedeaths in London referred to pneumonia and disease:’ of therespiratory system, which had been 278, 289, and 328 in thethree preceding weeks, further rose last week to 343, but were92 below the corrected average number in the correspondingperiods of the four preceding years. The causes of 70,or 1 3 per cent., of the deaths in the 76 towns last weekwere not certified either by a registered medical practi-tioner or by a coroner. All the causes of death were

duly certified in West Ham, Leicester, Nottingham, Salford,Bradford, Hull, and 45 other smaller towns, while the largestproportions of uncertified deaths were registered in Ports-mouth, Hanley, Birmingham, Aston Manor, Liverpool,St. Helens, Blackburn, Sheffield, and Gateshead.

HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.

The annual rate of mortality in eight of the principalScotch towns, which had been 16 8, 18’ 0, and 19 6 per 1000in the three preceding weeks, declined again to 19 3 per 1000during the week ending March 3rd, but was 1’9 per 1000in excess of the mean rate during the same period in the 76large English towns. The rates in the eight Scotch townsranged from 10 ’ 7 in Leith and 13 - 6 in Perth to21’4 in Greenock and 27’5 in Dundee. The 661 deathsin these towns included 26 which were referred tomeasles, 14 to diarrhoea, ten to whooping-cough, six to

diphtheria, three to "fever," and two to scarlet fever.In all, 61 deaths resulted from these principal infectiousdiseases last week, against 47, 64, and 54 in the three pre-ceding weeks. These 61 deaths were equal to an annualrate of 1’ 8 per 1000, which was 0’ 4 per 1000 above themean rate last week from the same diseases in the 76large English towns. The fatal cases of measles, which hadbeen 18, 34, and 28 in the three preceding weeks, furtherdeclined to 26 last week, and included 16 in Glasgow, four inPaisley, three in Dundee, and two in Edinburgh. The deathsfrom diarrhoea, which had been 15, ten, and five in the threepreceding weeks, rose again last week to 14, of which sixoccurred in Glasgow and five in Dundee. The fatal casesof whooping-cough, which had been four, five, and tenin the three preceding weeks, were again ten last weekand included six in Glasgow and two in Dundee. Thedeaths from diphtheria, which had been three, nine, andtwo in the three preceding weeks, rose again last weekto six, of which four were registered in Glasgow. Thedeaths referred to diseases of the respiratory system inthese towns, which had been 108, 134, and 125 in thethree preceding weeks, rose again to 153 last week, andwere 39 above the number in the corresponding period oflast year. The cause? of 19, or nearly 3 per cent., of thedeaths registered in these eight towns last week were notcertified.

HEALTH OF DUBLIN.

The death-rate in Dublin, which had been 20 - 5, 19-0,and 24 ’ 4 per 1000 in the three preceding weeks, further roseto 24’ 8 per 1000 during the week ending March 3rd.

During the past four weeks the death-rate has averaged22 - 2 per 1000, the rate during the same period being 16 5per 1000 both in London and in Edinburgh. The 180 deachsof persons belonging to Dublin registered during the weekunder notice were three in excess of the number in the pre-ceding week and included six which were referred to theprincipal infectious diseases, against one, one, and six inthe three preceding weeks ; of these, four resulted fromwhooping-cough, one from " fever," and one from diar-rhoea, but not any from small-pox, measles, scarlet fever,or diphtheria. These six deaths were equal to an annualrate of 0’ 8 per 1000, the death-rates last week from theprincipal infectious diseases being 1’ 4 in London and O. 9in Edinburgh. The 180 deaths in Dublin last week in-cluded 22 of children under one year of age and 55 ofpersons aged 60 years and upwards; the deaths of infantsshowed a decline, while those of elderly persons slightlyexceeded the number in the preceding week. Nine inquestcases and ten deaths from violence were registered ; and61, or more than a third, of the deaths occurred in publicinstitutions. The causes of four, or more than 2 percent., of the deaths registered in Dublin last week werenot certified.

THE SERVICES.

ROYAL NAVY MEDICAL SBRVIOB.IHE following appointments are notified :--Fleet Sur-

geons : J. J. Walsh to the Blenheim, on recommissioning;E. R. D. Fasken to the Implacable; and J. Jenkins to theHood. Staff Surgeons: R. D. Jameson to the La waster,on recommissioning : G. T. Bishop and R. F. Clark to thePresident, additional for three months’ course at the WestLondon Hospital. Surgeons : W. C. B. Smith to theLancaster, on recommissoning, and H. V. Wells to theEelipse.

ROYAL HORSE GUARDS.

Surgeon-Captain Basil Pares, from 1st Life Guards, to beSurgeon-Major, vice Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel H. Rayner,retired (dated Feb. 17cb, 1906).

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.Lieutenant A. C. Osburn is appointed to the Station Hos-

pital, Lebong, for duty. Major C. R. Elliott, SanitaryOfficer, Western Command, is directed to proceed to Karachiand Quetta in connexion with proposals for accommodation,&c., connected with the Redistribution Scheme. Colonel0. E. P. Lloyd, V.C., Administrative Medical Officer of the5th Division, at Dover Headquarters, is ordered to India,where he will fill a s-imiiar appointment at Mhow.

ARMY MEDICAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.

Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Gforge Middlemiss havingresigned his commission in the Volunteers, ceases to belongto the Army Medical Reserve of Officers (dated March 3rd,1906). Surgeon-Major Cnarles N. Lee to be Surgéon-Lieu-tenant-Colonel (dattd Feb. 14th, 1906). Surgeon. MajorFrancis J. L. Warwick, having resigned his commission inthe Volunteers, ceases to belong to the Army MedicalReserve of Officers (dated March 3rd. 1906). Surgeon-Captain Campbell Boyd to be Surgeon-Major (datedFeb. 24th, 1906).

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS (MILITIA).Captain and Honorary Major (Honorary Captain in the

Army) J. T. Simpson to be Major (dated Jan. 13th, 1906).Captain (Honorary Captain in the Army) A. H. Benson isgranted the honorary rank cf Major (dated Feb. 2nd, 1906).

IMPERIAL YEOMANRY.West Somerset : Surgeon-Lieutenant C. Farrant to be Sur-

geon-Captain (dated March 3rd, 1906).VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Royal Garrison Artillery ( Volunteers) : lst Forfarshire.Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel W. ChalLLers-Cowan is grantedthe honorary rank of burgeon-Colonel (dated March 3rd,1906).

-Royal Engineers ( Volunteers) The Tyne Division (Sub-marine Miners) : Surgeon-Major F. W. Gtbbon is grantedthe honorary rank of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel (datedMarch 3rd, 1906).

-Rifle: The Queen’s Rifle Volunteer Brigade the RoyalScots (Lothian Regiment) : Laurence William Pole to be

Surgeon-Lieutenant (dated March 3rd, 1906). 8th Volun-teer Battalion the Royal Scots (Lothian Regiment) : Sur-

geon-Lieutenant W. P. Simpson resigns his commission

(dated March 3rd, 1906). 2nd (Earl of Chester’s) VolunteerBattalion the Cheshire Regiment : Surgeon-Lieutenant A.MacLennan to be Surgeon-Captain (dated March 3rd,1906). 2nd London Volunteer Rifle Corps: Surgeon-Captain S. A. M. Copeman to be Surgeon-Major (datedFeb. 12th, 1906).

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPH (VOLUNTEERS).Scottish Command : Glasgow Companies : Lieutenant G.

Gordon to be Captain (dated March 3rd, 1906).DEATHS IN THE SERVICES.

Thomas Edmondston Charles, M.D., LL.D. Edin.,F.R.C.P. Lond., Deputy Surgeon-General I.M.S. (retired),Honorary Physician to His Majesty the King, at his resi-dence, Cliff Cottage, Flushing, near Falmouth, on March 2nd.He was the son of the late Rev. Dr. Charles of Kirkcowanand was born at Calcutta where his father was chaplain forthe Church of Scotland. He received his medical educationat the University of Edinburgh and after graduating enteredthe Indian Medical Service. Proceeding to India in 1857, bepassed through the Indian Mutiny, taking part in the

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notable forced march from Dugshai to Delhi. On his retire-meLt he took up private practice at Calcutta. He retiredfrom the service with the rank of deputy surgeon-general.Henry Carden Herbert, M.D. Glasg., F.R C S. Irtl ,

L.R.C.P. Edin., Deputy Surgeon-General, A.M.S. (retired),at his residence, 6, Elliot-terrace, Plymouth, on March 2nd,in his seventy-third year. The deceased was born in countyKerry, Ireland, and entered the army as assistant surgeon inFebruary, 1857, being attached to the 45th Regiment. Hebecame surgeon in May, 1872, surgeon-major in March, 1873,and brigade-surgeon in December, 1882, retiring with therank of deputy surgeon-general in March, 1888. The deceasedhad no war service but was stationed for several years inCanada. St. Helena, and the Cape. He was in charge of thestation hospital, Devonport, in 1880 for some time and subse-quently held an appointment at the Horfield Depot, Bristol.After his retirement he resided at Plymouth, where he waswell known and highly respected.

THE THE .NAVY ESTIMATES. (

The Estimates for 1906-07, which have just been issued, show :that a sum of ;&275,COO is provided for medical establish- ]ment and services. The amount for 1905-06 was f.277 ,500. THE ARMY ESTIMATES : A FORMATION OF A CIVILIAN

,

RESERVE.Provision is made in the Army Estimates, a memorandum

in reference to which has just been issued by Mr. Haldane,for the formation of a reserve of civilian surgeons, whoshould possess some training ia the specal requirements ofarmy field hospitals and should also be available for service,upon mobilisation, both at home and abroad Steps are tobe taken to provide the necessary subordinate auxiliaries tosuch a reserve force. The Estimates for 1906-07 for medicalestablishmer,t, &c, show a sum of R490 000, as against.6482,000 in 1905-C6. ,

ARMY RECRUITING.

The annual report for the year ending Sept. 30th last hasbeen recently issued. The conditions that obtained duringthe period included in the report by Major General Miles,Director of Recruiting and Organisation, were of an

exceptional nature but speaking generally the results cannotbe regarded as satisfactory. The number of recruits whojoined the regular army amounted to 35,351 and for themilitia 29,941, showing a decrease for both the regular armyand the militia as compared with the previous 12 months. It

may be remarked that medical inspection has been morestringent and the ratio of medical rejections consequentlyincreased. The general result is that as regards infantry ofthe line in the year under review about 21,270 men for nineyears’ service have been obtained. The appointment of adistrict medical inspector of recruits appears to be one-of theimportant changes that have taken place.

DENTAL SURGEONS IN THE ARMY.

The services of an additional dental surgeon are required for duty with trools in the United Kingdom from April lstnext. He will be required to devote his whole time to

military duty and will receive an inclusive salary of E365per annum and travelling expenses. The period of engage-ment will be for one year and under conditions specified inthe contract and the necessary dental appliances will be pro-vided. Applications should be addressed to the Secretaryof the Army Council, 68, Victoria-street, London, S W., notlater than March 21st.

MIlIrAhY TEAIUNG.There seem to be several schemes in the field at the present

time which have one aim and object in common--namely,that of overcoming our unpreparedness for war while avoid-irg conscription. It may be said of them that they wouldnot only prove advantageous from a military but from aphysical and moral point of view, and in that respect have amedical interest. Lord Roberts’s proposals, for example,have of late assumed a more definite and practical shapeand he has, as everybody knows, been urging their generaladoption with all possible ardour in the conviction that theyare not only absolutely needed as a matter of national safetybut that they are v ry reasonable and practically quitecapable of being carried out. In the event of his

proposals and of his scheme for a " citizen armybeing taken up in anything like an enthusiastic and compre-hensive way it would infuse a new spirit into public opinionand have a favourable effect on all branches of the military

service. In another direction Colonel Pollock’s scheme,known as the Spectator experimental military training, willprove an interesting and important experiment. ColonelPollock contends that it is feasible to train raw recruits insix months up to a standard of efficiency equal to that nowattained in as many years by any regulars provided thatthe officer conducting the training is allowed a free hand.Assuming the success of the experiment it may follow thatthe militia can be rendered capable of furnishing g an efficientnational army of reserve. The result of this experimentwill consequently be awaited with much interest.

COMPRESSED DRUGS IN THE GERMAN ARMY.

In an army on active service the impedimenta should beeduced to the lowest possible limit compatible with

efficiency and although drugs do not, comparatively speak-ng, take up much room, still, everything that conduces toliminution of bulk or weight is worthy of consideration.Lt was not until 1897, according to Apothecary-Major Kopp)f the French army, that the German military medicalauthorities bethought themselves of replacing the little

packets of powders which had hitherto been supplied totheir hospitals and dispensaries by something that would beless bulky and more readily conserved during the exigenciesof warfare. Compressed tablets seeming to offer most

practical advantages experiments were accordingly madewith some of the simpler powders in daily use andthe result proving satisfactory the process was extendedto the more complicated medicaments. According tothe latest edition of the medical regulations 18different kinds of compressed tablets are now officinal inthe pharmacopoeia, of the German army. In the subjoinedlist the numerals represent the quantity in grammes of theactive ingredients in each tablet: citric acid, 0’60 ; salicylicacid, 0-50; antipyrin, 0’50; mint leaves, 2 00; calomel,0 - 20 ; corrosive sublimate, 0’ 50 ; morphine, 0 01 ;phenacetin, O.50 ; ipecacuanha and opium (equal parts),0’ 30 ; ipecacuanha and tartar emetic (19 parts and onepart), 0 65 ; opium, 0 - 06 ; rhubarb, 0’ 50 ; quinine,0’30 ; bicarbonate of sodium, 1- 00; carbonate of sodium,1.00 ; tannic acid, 0’06; " Resolutive" tablet (salammoniac, 25 parts ; liquorice, 25 parts ; benzoin,one part), 1’ 00 ; and Schleich’s tablet for hypodermic use(morphine 25 parts, cocaine 10 parts, and chloride of sodium20 parts), 0’55. In addition to the foregoing tabletscontaining carbolic acid were formerly in use but have nowbeen abandoned because the experience gained by medicalofficers of the German ambulances in the Transvaal showedthat they were liable to melt during hot weather. As it is

to comroi not oiny Lne quainy OUt aiso tee quantity)f the active ingredients in compressed tablets the militarylledical authority decided to manufacture the supply them-selves and to this end have established the necessarynachinery at the headquarters of each army corps. Themachines employed are for the most part American or

sise constructed according to American models. Up toL901 the corrosive sublimate tablets were prepared inLhe machine invented by Bernegausch but as the processwas found to be extremely dangerous to the workmenand, moreover, proved to be very expensive, the manufacturewas suspended aud all demands for this form of tablet arenow met by purchase in the open market. The tablets

prepared by the medical department are fiat on both sidesand have a diameter of 12 millimetres, excepting only themint tablets, which are 20 millimetres in diameter, andthose of Schleich, which are bi-convex, with a diameter ofeight millimetres. Apothecary-Major Kopp admits that bysubstituting compressed tablets for powders wrapped looselyin paper the Germans have realised an incontestableadvance, but he also thinks that this advance is more

apparent than real. The French army so far possesses onlytwo kinds of compressed tablets, but in the Central Pharmacyof the medical department they have all the appliances forthe production of an unlimited supply. By distributing thismachinery in so many directions the Germans clearly placethemselves at a disadvantage.

DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS.-St Mary’s Hos-pital has received an anonymous gift of &1000 in reliefof its present great financial difficulties.- The treasurerof St. Bartholomew’s Hospital has received £100 from SirThomas Smith towards the rebuilding fund. This is a thirdinstalment.