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had been no negligence. Mr. Edmund Owen and ProfessorSims Woodhead gave evidence that in their opinion thesubsequent disease of the right arm had nothing to do withthe whitlow on the left thumb, except in so far as both condi-tions were due to the presence of the same micro-organism.Other medical evidence for the defence was called to provethat the whitlow was subcutaneous and trivial, and that itwas correctly treated at Sherborne. The Lord Chief Justicesaid that the questions for the jury were whether there hadbeen any negligence on the part of the school doctor, thematron, or the housemaster ; and if so whether that

negligence brought about the loss of the arm ? After abrief adjournment the jury answered both the questions inthe negative, and the Lord Chief Justice concurred in theirverdict, adding that he could not have permitted any otherto stand, although he was glad that the matter had beenthoroughly investigated. We think that this verdict mustmeet with the approval of all medical men who have care-fully studied the evidence given during the four days’ hearingof the action. Also we must all feel deep sympathy withthe boy in his irreparable loss. Osteomyelitis is one of themost tragic diseases of early life, and its actual origin isoften difficult to determine.

VITAL STATISTICS.

HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS. IIN 77 of the largest English towns 8169 births and 3715deaths were registered during the week ending July 8th.The revised estimate of the population of these towns in themiddle of this year is 16,157,797 persons. The annual rateof mortality in these towns, calculated on this revisedestimate, which had been equal to 11 - 3 and 11 - 7 per 1000in the two preceding weeks, further rose to 12-0 0 in the weekunder notice. During the 13 weeks of last quarter theannual death-rate in these towns averaged 13’ per 1000,and in London during the same period the mean annualdeath-rate did not exceed 13-2 per 1000. The recordedannual death-rates during last week in the 77 towns Iranged from 4-6 in Bournemouth, 5-6 in Aston Manor,

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6,9 in Northampton, and 7-0 in King’s Norton, to 17’1 1in Burnley, 17’6 in Liverpool, 18’4 in Stoke-on-Trent,and 19’4 in Tynemouth. The 3715 deaths from all causesin the 77 towns last week showed a further increaseof 92 upon the low numbers in recent weeks, andincluded 284 which were referred to the principal epi-demic diseases, against 273 and 268 in the two pre-ceding weeks. Of these 284 deaths, 87 resulted frominfantile diarrhoea, 79 from measles, 54 from whooping-cough, 36 from diphtheria, 19 from scarlet fever,8 from enteric fever, and 1 from small-pox. Themean annual death-rate from these epidemic diseaseswas equal to O’ 9 per 1000, and corresponded with the ratefrom the same diseases in each of the two preceding weeks.The deaths attributed to diarrhceal diseases among childrenunder two years of age in the 77 towns, which had been 88,86, and 70 in the three preceding weeks, rose again to 87 lastweek, and were proportionally most numerous in Liverpooland in Merthyr Tydfil. The fatal cases of measles in the77 towns, which had steadily declined in the preceding 17weeks from 474 to 76, were 79 last week ; the highestannual death-rates from this disease recorded in thesetowns last week were 1-4 in Bolton, 1-6 in Wolver-hampton, and 2- 8 in Great Yarmouth. The 54 deaths from

wbooping-cough showed a further decline from recent weeklynumbers. The deaths referred to diphtheria, which had been21 and 35 in the two previous weeks, were 36 last week, andincluded 14 in London and its suburban districts, 5 in Stoke-on-Trent, 3 in Manchester, and 2 both in Portsmouthand Swansea. The 19 fatal cases of scarlet fever showed afurther slight increase upon the numbers in recent weeks ;5 occurred in London, 3 in Liverpool, and 2 both in King’sNorton and in Rhondda. The 8 deaths referred to entericfever corresponded with the number in each of the three pre-ceding weeks, including 2 in London and 1 in West Ham.The fatal case of small-pox was registered in Wallasey.The number of scarlet fever patients under treatmentin the Metropolitan Asylums and in the London FeverHospital, which had steadily increased in the 12 precedingweeks from 982 to 1236, had further risen to 1264 at the end

of last week; 191 new cases of this disease were admittedto these hospitals during the week under notice, against159 and 163 in the two previous weeks. These hospitalsalso contained, at the end of last week, 780 cases of diph-theria, 414 of measles, 278 of whooping-cough, and 35 ofenteric fever, but not one of small-pox. The 954 deathsfrom all causes in London last week were fewer by 9 thanthe number in the previous week, and included 102 which werereferred to diseases of the respiratory system, against 139,111, and 117 in the three preceding weeks. The deathsattributed to different forms of violence in the 77 towns,which had been 136 and 169 in the two previous weeks,declined again to 155 last week ; 313 inquest cases were

registered. The causes of 25, or 0 7 per cent., of the deathsregistered during the week were not certified either by aregistered medical practitioner or by a coroner. All thecauses of death registered during last week were dulycertified in London and its suburban districts, Leeds, Bristol,Bradford, Hull, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and in 50 other smallertowns; the 25 uncertified causes of death in the 77 townslast week included 6 in Birmingham, 5 in Liverpool, and 2each in Stoke-on-Trent, Leicester, and Gateshead.

HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.

In eight of the principal Scotch towns, with an esti-mated population of 1,710,291 persons, 885 birthsand 477 deaths were registered during the week endingJuly 8th. The annual rate of mortality in these towns, whichhad been equal to 13 - 3 and 14 2 per 1000 in the two pre-ceding weeks, further rose to 14 6 in the week under notice.During the 13 weeks of last quarter the annual death-rate in these towns averaged 16 7 per 1000 of therevised estimate of their population, and exceeded by2’ 9 the revised mean rate during the same period inthe 77 large English towns. The annual death-rate duringlast week in the eight Scotch towns ranged from 8-7 and9’ 3 in Perth and Aberdeen to 16 - 2 in Glasgow and 19 4 inGreenock. The 477 deaths from all causes in the eighttowns last week showed a further increase upon the lownumbers in the two preceding weeks, and included 49which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases,against 64, 58, and 63 in the three preceding weeks;of these 49 deaths, 14 resulted from measles, 14 frominfantile diarrhoea, 12 from whooping-cough, 7 fromdiphtheria, and 2 from scarlet fever, but not one eitherfrom enteric fever or small-pox. The mean annualdeath-rate from these epidemic diseases in the eighttowns last week was equal to 1 - 5 per 1000 ; the mean ratelast week from the same diseases in the 77 English towns didnot exceed 0’9 per 1000. The fatal cases of measles in theeight Scotch towns, which had been 16 and 13 in the two pre-vious weeks, were 14 last week, and included 11 in Glasgowand 3 in Edinburgh. The 14 deaths of infants under twoyears of age attributed to diarrhoea.1 diseases were fewer by 6than the number in the previous week ; 8 occurred in Glasgowand 3 in Edinburgh. The fatal cases of whooping-cough,which had steadily declined in the five preceding weeks from43 to 22, further fell to 12 last week, of which 9 were regis-tered in Glasgow and 2 in Greenock. The 7 deathsreferred to diphtheria showed an increase upon the numbersin recent weeks, and included 5 in Glasgow. The 2 fatalcases of scarlet fever occurred in Dundee. The deaths referredto diseases of the respiratory system in the eight towns,which had been 51 and 48 in the two previous weeks, rose

to 56 last week, but were 10 below the number in the cor-responding week of last year. Of the 477 deaths from allcauses in the eight towns last week, 151, or 35 per cent.,were recorded in public institutions, and 26 were attri-buted to different forms of violence. The causes of 19, or

4 - 0 per cent., of the deaths in the eight towns last weekwere not certified or not stated ; in the 77 English townsthe proportion of uncertified causes of death during the weekdid not exceed 0’ 7 per cent.

HEALTH OF IRISH TOWNS.

In the 22 town districts of Ireland, having an estimatedpopulation of 1,149,495 persons (based on the recent Censusnumbers), 556 births and 312 deaths were registered duringthe week ending July 8th. The annual rate of mortality inthese towns, which had been equal to 13-5 and 17-0 per1000 in the two preceding weeks, declined again to

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14-2 in the week under notice. During the 13 weeksof last quarter the annual death-rate in these towns

averaged 17-9 per 1000 ; the mean rate during the sameperiod in the 77 English towns did not exceed 13’8, andin the eight principal Scotch towns was 16’7 per 1000.The annual death-rate during the week under notice in the22 Irish towns was equal to 13-9 in Dublin (against 11. 0in London), 12-4 in Belfast, 15 8 in Cork, 8-9 in

Londonderry, 16 3 in Limerick, and 28’5 5 in Waterford ; inthe 16 smallest of these Irish towns the mean annual death-rate last week was equal to 16- 5 per 1000. The 312deaths from all causes in the 22 towns last week showeda decline of 62 from the number in the previous week, andincluded 22 which were referred to the principal epidemicdiseases, against 27 and 21 in the two previous weeks ; these22 deaths were equal to an annual rate of 1. 0 per 1000,slightly exceeding the mean rate from the same diseasesin the 77 English towns. These 22 deaths from the principalepidemic diseases in the Irish towns last week included 8from diarrhoea, 6 from measles, 3 from diphtheria, 2 fromscarlet fever, and one each from whooping-cough, entericfever and typhus, but not one from small-pox. The 8 deathsattributed to diarrhceal diseases were all of infants undertwo years of age, and included 4 in Dublin and 2 in Belfast.The 6 fatal cases of measles were fewer by 3 than those inthe previous week ; 4 occurred in Dublin and 2 in Cork.Of the 3 deaths referred to diphtheria, 2 were returned inDublin and 1 in Belfast ; and of the 2 fatal cases of scarletfever 1 each occurred in the same towns. The fatal caseof enteric fever was registered in Dublin, and that of

typhus in Cork. The deaths referred to diseases of the respira-tory system, which had been 48 and 54 in the two previousweeks, declined to 46 last week. Of the 312 deaths from allcauses in the 22 towns last week, 94, or 30 per cent., wererecorded in public institutions, and 8 were referred to differentforms of violence. The causes of 17, or 5-4 per cent., of thedeaths registered in the 22 towns last week were notcertified either by a registered medical practitioner or by acoroner after inquest ; the proportion of uncertified causes ofdeath in the week under notice did not exceed 0- 7 per cent.in the 77 large English towns, and was equal to 4 - 0 percent. in the eight principal Scotch towns.

THE SERVICES.

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.

Colonel M. W. Kerin, C.B., principal medical officer of theBareilly, Garhwal, and Dehra Dun Brigades, has been

appointed Principal Medical Officer of the Seventh (Meernt)Division, in succession to Colonel F. B. Maclean. Lieutenant-Colonel M. J Sexton, at present serving in Dublin, has beenplaced under orders for duty in South Africa. Lieutenant-Colonel S C. Philson has been granted three months’ leaveof absence. Lieutenant-Colonel H. A. Haines has beenappointed Senior Medical Officer of the Eastern CoastDefences in succession to Lieutenant-Colonel R. P. Bond.Lieutenant-Colonel J. F. Donegan, from the Military Hos-pital at Parkhurbt, has been selected by the War Office asRecruiting Medical Officer at Woolwich. Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. F. Shine, commanding the Military Hospitalat Naini Tal, has been granted leave of absence home fromIndia until Oct. 31st next. Lieutenant-Colonel J. Fallon,in medical charge of the troops at Preston, has beendetailed for a tour of service with the Northern

Army in India. Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Nichol, D.S.O.,commanding the S ation Hospital at Maymyo, Upper Burma,has been appointed to officiate as Principal Medical Officerof the Burma Division. Lieutenant-Colonel C. T. Blackwell

Ihas been appointed to command the Military Hospital atRangoon. Major J. D. Alexander, on completion of a tourof service at Thayetmyo, has been appointed to the Station

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Hospital at Darjeeling. Major E. W. Slayter, from Wellington,has been appointed to command the Station Hospital at

Bellary, Madras Presidency. Major H. E. Staddin, fromthe Curragh Camp, has joined at Dover. Major E. W. Blisshas been transferred from Mhow to the Station Hospital atQuetta. Major H. G. Martin, from Calcutta, has taken overthe command of the Military Hospital at Lebong, PresidencyBrigade. Major G. J. Stoney Archer, from Secunderabad,

has taken up auty as Specialise in Advancea Opera-tive Surgery at Maymyo, Upper Burma. Major C. W. R.Healey has been granted three months’ leave of absencehome from India. Major F. Smith, D.S.O., has beengranted one year’s extension of his Indian tour of serviceby H.E. the Commander-in-Chief. Major F. J. W. Porter,D.S.O., in medical charge of effective troops at Cosham, hasbeen appointed for duty with the Northern Army in India.Captain J. H. R. Bond, from Mhow, has taken up duty atthe Station Hospital, Nasirabad. Captain F. E. Rowan-Robinson, from Colchester, has joined at Norwich. CaptainM. B. H. Ritchie has been granted one year’s extension ofhis Indian tour of service. Captain W. A. Woodside,Adjutant of the East Anglian Royal Army Medical CorpsSchool of Instruction at Ipswich, has been placed underorders for duty with the Northern Army in India. CaptainC. H. Straton has been detailed for duty as sanitary officerin South Africa. Captain M. C. Wetherell, from Meerut,has joined for duty at the Curragh. Captain T. Biggam hasbeen transferred from Aldershot to Bordon. LieutenantH. H. Blake, from Allahabad cantonment, has joined theStation Hospital at Peshawar for duty. The followingLieutenants have been detailed for a tour of duty in SouthAfrica : C. T. V. Benson, G. P. Taylor, 0. W. McSheehy,C. L. Franklin, J. R. Hill, H. F. Joynt, and H. R. Edwards.

INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE.

Surgeon-General A. M. Crofts, C.I.E., has been appointedPrincipal Medical Officer of the Second (Rawal Pindi)Division of the Northern Army in India, in succession toSurgeon-General H. Hamilton, C.B. Lieutenant-ColonelC. E. L. Gilbert has been granted an extension of sixmonths’ leave of absence home from India on medical certifi-cate. Major H. Boulton has been recognised as a Specialistin the Prevention of Disease. Major W. Glen Liston hasbeen appointed to officiate in charge of the BacteriologicalLaboratory under the Education Department Qf the Govern-ment of India. Captain F. C. Fraser has been appointed fortemporary duty in the Madras Presidency. Captain G. A.Jolly has been selected to officiate as Civil Surgeon of

Mainpuri. Captain W. D. Wright has arrived home on

leave of absence from India. On transfer from Ferozopore,Captain A. F. Babonan has been appointed District PlagueMedical Officer of the Ambala District. Captain J. M. A.Macmillan, civil surgeon at Hoshangabad, has been appointedon special deputation duty at Pachmarhi. Captain C. G.Seymour has taken up duty as Specialist in the Prevention ofDisease and Charge of the Brigade Bacteriological ResearchLaboratory at Dehra Dun.

SPECIAL RESERVE OF OFFICERS.

Royal Army Medical Corps.Lieutenant John J. M. Shaw is confirmed in his rank.

TERRITORIAL FORCE.

Royal Army Medioal Corps.2nd Eastern General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps:

The undermentioned officers to be Lieutenant-Colonels (datedMay 21st, 1911) :-Major Edward F. Maynard and MajorFrederick J. Paley. The undermentioned officers to be

Majors (dated May 21st, 1911): Captain Frank G Bushnelland Captain Walter A. Bowring. Captain William D. Calvertresigns his commission (dated July 8th, 1911).

Attaohed to Units other than Medioal nats.-Major JamesMalpas resigns his commission, and is granted permission toretain his rank and to wear the prescribed uniform (datedJuly 8th, 1911).For Attaahment to Units other than Medxoal Ilnits.-

George Bell Brand to be Lieutenant (dated May 15th, 1911).JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.

Among the many interesting articles in the July issue ofthis journal is a joint one by Colonel Sir David Bruce,Captain A. E. Hamerton, Captain H. R. Bateman, andCaptain F. P. Mackie, I. M.S., on the TrypanosomeDiseases of Domestic Animals in Uganda. Captain P. J.Marett writes on the Life-History of the Pblebotomus,the article, which concludes with some suggestedmeasures for lowering the incidence of the "sa’dSy"fever, being illustrated by drawings which are well repro-duced. The subject of marching is one which still