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REPORT OF THE AGRICLTLTURALDEPARTMENT.

PROFESSOR BROWN’S report of the Agricultural Depart-ment, Privy Council Office, on the Contagious Diseases,Inspection, and Transit of Animals for the year 1887, openswith a reference to pleuro-pneumonia, in which it is pointedout that, although inoculation confers a certain degree ofprotection, its effects are merely palliative, and it is ameasure which has in no country succeeded in getting ridof the disease. The only successful procedure has been thestamping-out system. It is suggested that an exhaustivescientific inquiry should be made upon the subject. Pleuro-pneumonia was very prevalent in some parts of Scotlandduring the past year, the number of outbreaks increasingfrom 55 in 1884, with 321 cattle attacked, to 324 in 1887,with 1380 attacked. In England the number of out-breaks and infected animals was in 1884-257 and 775,in 1887-293 and 1047 respectively. Wales remained prac-tically free, only one outbreak occurring there in 1884 andone in 1887. The increase is undoubtedly in the main dueto the movement of infected cattle-a fact which received astriking confirmation in the case of Lanarkshire,’,where effortsto stamp out the disease for a long time failed to eradicateit, owing to the existence of unsuspected centres of thedisease in that county. Professor Brown insists upon therigid enforcement of the powers possessed by the local z,authorities with respect to the movement of cattle intheir districts, and alludes to the fact that the diseaseis one which may remain dormant and unrecognisablefor months, as an explanation of the impossibility of atonce eradicating it by repressive measures. Still, suchmeasures, promptly and generally applied, should limit ont-breaks when they do occur. Swine fever, also highly con-tagious and fatal, is even more difficult to deal with, andthe opinion is expressed that stamping out swine fever willonly be carried to a successful issue when cattle plague

regulations are enforced. Experimental inquiry as to thevalue of inoculations has had to be abandoned owing to thedifficulties of having a sufficient number of persons licensedto perform such experiments. It is pointed out that threedistinct diseases are included in the term swine fever, andthe appendix contains a report of a recent inquiry by Pro-fessor Schiitz upon the subject. The fever prevalent in thiscountry is identical with hog cholera of the United States,but there is also a contagious lung disease (swine plague,Salmon) prevalent in France (let pnewnonie infectie’tlse) andGermany (<S’cA!C6M:c seuche); and also a form of erysipelas(rouget, Fr.) These two latter forms have not been identi-fied in this country, but they may exist, although to a veryslight extent. Stamping out fails in swine fever becauseof the general apathy in regard to its ravages. It fails inanthrax from the utter impossibility to prevent the intro-duction of the spores of the disease. Rabies was muchless prevalent among dogs, but the year was marked bythe epidemic among the deer in Richmond Park, of whichan account is given in the appendix. Glanders and farcywere apparently more prevalent, especially in the metro-polis. The report also refers to the importation of foreignanimals, and contains in the appendix full reports of theinspectors.

VITAL STATISTICS.

HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.

IN twenty-eight of the largest English towns 5729 birthsand 2881 deaths were registered during the week endingAug. 4th. The annual rate of mortality in these towns,which had ranged between 15’0 and 16’0 per 1000 in thepreceding four weeks, was again last week 16-0. During thefirst five weeks of the current quarter the death-rate inthese towns averaged but 15’7 per 1000, and was 5’5 belowthe mean rate in the corresponding periods of the ten years1878-87. The lowest rates in these towns last week were9-0 in Bristol, 10-0 in Brighton, 12-0 in Cardiff, and 12-4 inHull. The rates in the other towns ranged upwards to19 -2 in Wolverhamptoia, 19’7 in Preston, 21’1 in Hudders-field, and 21-9 in Manchester. The deaths referred to theprincipal zymotic diseases, which had been 311 and 409 inthe precedmg two weeks, further rose last week to 432; they

included 215 from diarrhcea, 64 from measles, 61 fromwhooping-cough, 39 from scarlet fever, 27 from diphtheria,21 from " fever (principally enteric), and only 5 fromsmall-pox. No death from any of these zymotic diseases-was registered during the week in Brighton or inCardiff, whereas they caused the highest death-rates inSheffield, Leeds, and Leicester. The greatest mortality fromdiarrhcea occurred in Leeds, Preston, Leicester, and Sheffield;from whooping-cough in Norwich, Manchester, and Halifax;.from measles in Wolverhampton and Leicester; from scarletfever in Huddersfield and Blackburn; and from "fever" inBirkenhead. The 27 deaths from diphtheria included 19-in London and 3 in Manchester. Small-pox caused 2deaths in Preston, 1 in Oldham, 1 in Sheffield, and 1 inHull, but not one in London or in any of the twenty-threeother great towns. The Metropolitan Asylum Hospitals-and the Highgate Small-pox Hospital contained only 2small-pox patients at the end of the week. The number-of scarlet fever patients in the Metropolitan AsylumHospitals and in the London Fever Hospital was 828 atthe end of the week, against numbers declining in the

preceding four weeks from 924 to 861; 73 cases were

admitted during the week, against 105 and 87 in the twoprevious weeks. The deaths referred to diseases of therespiratory organs in London, which had been 166 and160 in the preceding two weeks, rose last week to

167, but were 25 below the corrected average. The causesof 58, or 2’0 per cent., of the deaths in the twenty-eight.towns last week were not certified either by a registeredmedical practitioner or by a coroner. All the causes ofdeath were duly certified in Bradford, Leicester, Portsmouth,and in five other smaller towns. The largest proportionsof uncertified deaths were registered in Halifax, Hudders-field, and Blackburn.

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HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.

Tne annual rate of mortality in the eight Scotch towns,which had been 18’4 and 15’3 per 1000 in the preceding twe.weeks, rose again to 15’9 in the week ending August 4th;.this rate was 0’1 below the mean rate during the same-week in the twenty-eight large English towns. The ratesin these Scotch towns ranged from 6’4 and 10’5 in Perth,and Leith, to 18’2 in Glasgow and 18’7 in Aberdeen. The402 deaths in the eight towns showed an increase of 15upon the low number in the previous week, and included22 which wer&egrave; referred to diarrhoea, 5 to whooping-cough,3 to "fever," 3 to scarlet fever, 3 to measles, 2 to diph--theria, and not one to small-pox ; in all, 38 deaths resultedfrom these principal zymotic diseases, against 35 and 41in the preceding two weeks. These 38 deaths were equalto an annual rate of 1’5 per 1000, which was 0’9 below themean rate from the same diseases in the twenty-eightEnglish towns. The deaths attributed to diarrhoea, whichhad been 8, 12, and 21 in the preceding three weeks,further rose last week to 22, but were 6 below the number-returned in the corresponding week of last year. Thedeaths referred to the other zymotic diseases differed butslightly from the numbers in the previous two weeks. Allthe three deaths from "fever,’’ the 3 fatal cases of measles,.and 3 of the 5 from whooping-cough were returned inGlasgow. The deaths referred to acute diseases of therespiratory organs in the eight towns, which had been 84-and 46, in the preceding two weeks, rose again last weekto 55, but were 9 below the number returned in the cor--responding week of last year. The causes of 61, or morethan 15 per cent., of the deaths registered in the eight.towns during the week were not certified.

HEALTH OF DUBLIN.

The rate of mortality in Dublin, which had been 22&deg;6,.19-4, and 18-0 per 1000 in the preceding three weeks,rose again to 21’1 in the week ending August 4th. Duringthe first five weeks of the current quarter the death-rate-in the city averaged 20’3 per 1000, the mean rate during thesame period being 15’6 in London and 15’8 in Edinburoh-The 143 deaths in Dublin showed an increase of 21 uponthe number in the previous week ; they included 11 whichwere referred to whooping-cough, 6 to " fever (typhus,enteric, or ill-defined), 3 to scarlet fever, 1 to diarrhoea,and not one either to small-pox, measles, or diphtheria.Thus 21 deaths resulted from these principal zymotic dis-eases, against 21, 16, and 8 in the preceding three weeks ;these were equal to an annual rate of 3-1 per 1000, the

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rate from the same diseases being 2’7 in London and 0’2in Edinburgh. The deaths from whooping-cough, and"fever," showed a considerable increase upon the numbersin recent weeks ; the fatal cases of scarlet fever werewithin one of the number in the previous week. Fivedeaths from violence and 7 inquest cases were registered ;and 44, or nearly a third, of the deaths occurred in publicinstitutions. The causes of 15, or nearly 11 per cent.,- of the deaths in the city were not certified.

THE SERVICES.

ADMIRALTY. - The following appointments have beenmade:&mdash;Surgeon George -NN-. Bell, to the TVye; SurgeonBowen S. Mends, to the Vernon, temporarilv; Surgeon JohnS. Lambert, to Haslar Hospital; Surgeon C. W. Hamilton,to the Boscawen; and Surgeon E. E. Bray, to the RoyalMarine Artillery, Eastney (all to date Aug. 3rd, 1888);Surgeon Edward J. Biden, to the Defiance Surgeon WilliamHaves, to Plymouth Hospital; Surgeon F. A. Jeans, to theRoyal Marine Artillery, Eastney; Surgeon H. S. Jackson,to the Monarch; Surgeon John A. Aherne, to the RoyalMarine Depot, Walmer; Surgeon A. W. E. B. Barrett, to theAjax; " Surgeon George Welch, to Haslar Hospital; SurgeonEdward H. Williams, to the Duke of Wellington; SurgeonAlexander M. French, to the Royal Marines, Plymouth ; andSurgeon C. James, to the Agincourt (all to date Aug. 20th,1888).

AP.TILLEr,YVOLU,NTEL, PS. -IstGlanior,-anshire: ArchibaldHood, M.B., to be Acting Surgeon (dated Aug. 4th, 1888).RIFLE VOLUNTEERS. &mdash; 5th Volunteer Battalion, the

Cameronians (Scottish Rifles): Donald Macphail.M.D., tobe Acting Surgeon (dated Aug. 4tli, 1888); John Blair, M.D.,to be Acting Surgeon (dated Aug. 4th, 1888).-2nd Volun-teer Battalion, the King’s (Liverpool Regiment) : NathanielEdwd. Roberts, M.B., to be Acting Surgeon (dated Aug. 4th,1888).-4th (Stirlingshire) Volunteer Battalion, PrincessLouise’s (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) : John BrownRobertson, M.B., to be Acting Surgeon (datedaug. 4tli, 1888).3rd Volunteer Battalion, the Queen’s (Royal West SurreyRegiment) : Surgeon C. Stirling resigns his commission{dated Aug. 4th, 1888).&mdash;1st (Hallamshire) Volunteer Bat-talion, the York and Lancaster Regiment: Surgeon A.Hallam is granted the honorary rank of Surgeon-Major(dated Aug. 4th, 1888).

Correspondence.LONGEVITY AND ALCOHOL.

" Audi alteram partem."

To the Editors of THE LANCET.SIRS,&mdash;As you have referred to me, pray allow me to

state that in no paper or article have I attributed any" conclusions to Dr. Isambard Owen, other than he has-given himself. The paper to which you have alluded was’written with the very object of pointing out the error ofimputing such a " conclusion" to Dr. Owen, or that in-temperate drinkers lived longer than abstainers. This is anerror into which a large number of newspapers and of menof light and leading have fallen. The correspondence thathas poured in upon me from this misunderstanding has beenappalling. I distinctly pointed out that Dr. Owen plainlystated that the returns of the Collective Investigation Com-mittee afforded mo means of comparing the duration of lifeof abstainers and intemperates. I added Dr. Owen’s explana-tion of the apparent anomaly, and some of the conclusionswhich he felt warranted in drawing from the returns. Thoughthese conclusions are very favourable to temperance, I agreewith you in laying very little weight on them. The smallnumber of the cases reported on, 4234 deaths from 178 re-porters, is much too restricted a basis to warrant any generaldeductions of anv kind. Another grave defect is that thereturns depended on the memory of the returning practi-tioners for a preceding period of three years, the only guidebeing the counterfoils of each death certificate book. Con-sidering how few medical men have paid special attention tcthe alcoholic particulars of any case, and how overburdened a

general practitioner usually is, such a method cannot butbe inaccurate. The classification, too, was exceedinglyvague. For these and other reasons, while awarding Dr.Owen full praise for the labour and pains he has bestowedon the material at his disposal, I am unable to place muchreliance on the returns from this inquiry. It appears to meto be a sine qu&acirc; moza of any trustworthy investigation thatthe reporters should be asked to reportflltllre deaths duringa prescribed period. In this way attention would be calledbeforehand to the particulars required, and thus intelligentobservations would be recorded But such an inquiry mustever be surrounded with great difficulties.

I am, Sirs, your obedient servant,I Grove-road, Regent’s-pari-1, Aug. 4th, 1888. NORMAN KERR.

JUDICIAL EXECUTIONS BY HANGING.To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,&mdash;Your correspondent, Dr. Higham Hill, "hits theright nail on the head" when he complains that "underthe existing system the hangman appears to be the soleauthority for deciding upon the length of drop, &c." I

imagine "the few material points " in his letter mightinclude the important one of the position of the "knot"which is still placed under the left ear, though it is admittedto exercise, and with less force (drop) more fatal leveragewhen placed under the chin. The ropes used are made ofthe best Italian hemp and are wonderfully flexible and soft.Berry generally uses one of 7/8 in. diameter, though he hasshown me one of in. which he had used. These ropesbecome smaller and more cutting when stretched with aweight; the tight leather " washer," which is with difficultyforced down to fix the noose, generally falling 6 inches ormore, the amount of constriction of the neck. The hang-man is allowed to view his victim through the grating inthe condemned cell door long before the hour of execution,and it is on this inspection, together with weight and heightsupplied by the prison authorities, that he is supposed to makehis "calculations." If Berry knew, as he says he did, whatwas going to happen at Oxford, lie might have put three orfour common knots on the rope, between his "thread" andthe noose, which would have shortened the drop by about afoot, rendered the check a little more gradual, and wouldnot have added twenty seconds to the culprit’s stand underthe beam. I hope shortly to place before the profession adescription of the simple " contrivance " which I brought tothe notice of Lord Aberdare’s Committee with an analysisof the present system of executions, and of the committee’sobjections to my proposals, which I hope to find in a copy oftheir report promised by the Home Secretary through myfriend, Mr. Brookfield, M.P.

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I am, Sirs, your obedient servant, ^

J. J. DE ZOUCHE MARSHALL, L.R.C.S.I., &c.High-street, Hastings, Aug. 1st, 1888.

AN EASY METHOD FOR PRODUCING LARGEANATOMICAL DIAGRAMS.

To the Editors of THE LANCET.

SIRS,&mdash;Everyone knows that, having once produced theoutline to scale, the filling in of detail is an easy matterin a large diagram. Having wasted some time with panta-graph enlarging it was given up. I next turned to the

" magic lantern " for aid, and tried as follows :-1. Groundglass to trace the picture, then covered with Canada balsamand sheet of glass used as a lantern slide, but found that finelines cannot be easily traced, the thickness of glass offeringthe obstacle. 2. Plain glass coated with benzole varnish(one ounce dried Canada balsam to two ounces benzole); thisanswered better, but the thickness of the glass again pre-vented very fine tracings being made. 3. Next, coatedmica in thin sheets with the above varnish, and found itanswer admirably. Mode of procedure: Having coated themica with varnish, lay it on the picture or engraving to beenlarged, trace the outlines on the varnished surface with afine drawing pen and liquid Indian ink. Place this as theslide in an ordinary magic lantern (oil lamp gives ampleluminosity&mdash;I use an argand reading light in the lantern)and the picture is enlarged to any size according to thedistance of the lantern from the screen. I find it is betterto use the wall as the screen where the paper or calico is