676 VITAL STATISTICS. general death-rate and also in the mortality from tubercu- losis and diseases of infancy which has characterised York during the past decade is to be attributed to a material extent to the increased efficiency of the municipal sanitary work. The efforts already made in various directions to combat tuberculosis are particularly striking, and the experience gained should be invaluable now that the administrative conditions are altered by general notification of pulmonary tuberculosis and by the pro- spect of sanatorium provision being available on a large scale. There are three school nurses for the city whose work is combined with that of health visiting. In the latter duties the rule that no notes should be taken by the health visitor at the homes is at first sight arbitrary, but has much to commend it. The results of inquiries made as to the practice of different towns in dealing with tuberculous meat show that while the recommendations of the Royal Com- mission of 1898 are usually taken as the standard they are frequently departed from. In York the entire carcass is not condemned when tuberculous lesions are present in both body cavities but are "in the early stages," or even when they are present in the muscular system or in the lymphatic glands embedded in the muscles. Cases in which the latter conditions obtain do not often come under notice in meat inspection, but when they do there is usually substantial ground for total condemnation. The employment of a veterinary meat inspector, who acts with the sanitary inspectors in systematic inspection of the numerous private slaughter-houses, has had satisfactory results, while butchers, as a result of their system of insur- ance, show an increasing disposition to consult the sanitary authorities in all cases of doubt. In advising on the destruction of rats Dr. Smith lays stress on the advantages of using bacterial virus and on the harmlessness of the virus to man. The latter statement needs the qualification that the virus should not be allowed to contaminate food or places where food is kept. A substantial beginning appears to have been made in applying the provisions of the Housing Act and regulations to insanitary property in York. Metropolitan Borrough of Wandsroo’1’th.-A bulky volume has lately been issued by the borough council which com- prises a mass of information relating its general administra- tion up to March 31st, 1911, and includes the reports of the medical officer of health and the public analyst for 1910. These show that the proportion of samples of foods taken under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts which proved to be adulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory was as high as 9 per cent., a figure attributed mainly to greater discrimination in the selection of the samples and to the improved methods employed in obtaining them. Among the adulterations i reported the substitution for arrowroot of a flour containing 90 per cent. of tapioca may be mentioned. As Dr. P. Caldwell Smith points out, a comparison of the price paid for the arrowroot, Is. 6d. a pound, with that usually paid for tapioca, 3d. a pound, shows that a large profit may be obtained by this practice. The amount of boron preservative in some samples of prepared meats was exceptionally high, in one case (sausages) reaching 55 grains per pound. Pro- ceedings were taken against certain of the vendors and convic- tions obtained. This was also the case with a sample of cocoa containing 33 per cent. of extraneous shell, and with several samples where margarine was substituted for butter. The penalties usually imposed in these cases seem, however, to be much too small. A fine of .f:1, or even .f:5, is not enough to act as a deterrent to the practice of gross and profitable frauds such as are recorded in these reports. We would like to see more drastic action, for example, in the case of skim milk found to contain 44 per cent. of added water, or of the vendor who carries unadulterated milk in his large churn for the benefit of inspectors and casual purchasers, while habitually distributing adulterated milk in small cans to his regular customers. VITAL STATISTICS. HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS. IN the 94 largest English towns having an estimated population of 17.559.219 persons in the middle of this year, 8793 births and 5194 deaths were registered during the week ending March 2nd. The annual rate of mortality in these towns, which had decreased from 21’ 6 to 16 8 per 1000 in the three preceding weeks, further declined to 15 4 per 1000 in the week under notice. During the first nine weeks of the current quarter the mean annual death-rate in these large towns averaged 17 0 per 1000, while in London during the same period the average death-rate did not exceed 16 2 per 1000. The annual death-rates last week in the several towns ranged from 3 5 in Acton, 6’4 in Wallasey and Darlingr,on, 7-5 in Ilford, and 8 0 in Lincoln, to 23-7 7 in Ipswich, 23-8 in Huddersfield, 24 6 in Merthyr Tydfil, 24 9 in Gloucester, and 26- 8 in Great Yarmouth. The 5194 deaths from all causes last week were 451 fewer than the number in the previous week, and included 394 which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases, against numbers declining from 435 to 353 in the three pre- ceding weeks. These 394 deaths from the principal epidemic diseases included 142 which resulted from whooping-cough, 109 from measles, 53 from diphtheria, 49 from infantile diarrhoeal diseases, 21 from scarlet fever, and 20 from enteric fever, but not one from small-pox. The mean annual death-rate from these diseases last week was equal to 1 2 per 1000, against 1-1 and 1-0 in the two preceding weeks. The deaths attributed to whooping-cough, which had decreased from 186 to 147 in the three preceding weeks, again declined to 142 last week, and caused the highest annual death-rates of 2 2 in Tottenham, 2 3 in West Bromwich, 2-8 in Walsall, and 38 in Merthyr Tvdfil. The deaths referred to measles, which had been 98, 69, and 88 in the three preceding weeks, rose to 109 last week ; the highest annual death-rates from this disease were 1’7 7 in Rhondda, 22 in Manchester, 2.5 5 in York, 2.7 7 in Salford, and 2 8 in Warrington. The fatal cases of diphtheria, which had declined from 71 to 44 in the four preceding weeks, rose to 53 last week, and included 23 in London and its 14 suburban districts, and 2 each in Birmingham, Grimsby, Manchester, Huddersfield, Rother- ham, and Newcastle-on-Tyne. The deaths of infants under two years of age attributed to diarrhoeal diseases, which had been 49, 58, and 39 in the three preceding weeks, rose to 49 last week ; 23 deaths occurred in London and its suburban districts, and 3 each in Liverpool, Manchester, Salford, and Cardiff. The deaths referred to scarlet fever, which had been 22, 28, and 17 in the three preceding weeks, rose to 21 last week, and included 3 in Birmingham, and 2 each in London, Manchester, Preston, Huddersfield, and Leeds. The 20 fatal cases of enteric fever were 2 in excess of the average in the eight preceding weeks of the current quarter; 4 deaths were registered in Manchester, and 2 each in London, Salford, and Cardiff. The number of scarlet fever patients under treatment in the Metropolitan Asylums and in the London Fever Hospital, which had decreased from 1512 to 1427 during the three pre- ceding weeks, had further declined to 1392 on Saturday last; 160 new cases of this disease were admitted to these institu- tions during the week, against 178, 154, and 181 in the three previous weeks. These hospitals also contained on Saturday last 1136 cases of diphtheria, 462 of whooping- cough, 222 of measles, and 64 of enteric fever, but not one of small-pox. The 1228 deaths from all causes recorded in London were 106 fewer than the number in the previous week, and were equal to an annual death-rate of 14 2 per 1000 The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory system, which had decreased from 545 to 352 in the three preceding weeks, further declined to 295 last week, and were 23 below the number registered in the corresponding week of last year. Of the 5194 deaths in the 94 large towns, 172 resulted from different forms of violence, and 374 were the subject of coroners’ inquests. The causes of 34, or 0-7 7 per cent., of the deaths registered last week were not certified either by a registered medical practitioner or by a coroner after inquest. All the causes of death were duly certified in Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol, West Ham, Bradford, Hull, Nottingham, Portsmouth, and in 66 other smaller towns. The 34 uncertified causes of death last week in- cluded 6 in Birmingham, 4 in London, and 2 each in Stoke-on-Trent, Dadley, St. Helens, Burnley, Blackburn, and Sunderland. ____ HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS. In the 18 largest Scotch towns, having an estimated popu- lation of 2,182,400 persons in the middle of this year, 1175 births and 784 deaths were registered during the week
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676 VITAL STATISTICS.
general death-rate and also in the mortality from tubercu-losis and diseases of infancy which has characterised Yorkduring the past decade is to be attributed to a materialextent to the increased efficiency of the municipalsanitary work. The efforts already made in variousdirections to combat tuberculosis are particularly striking,and the experience gained should be invaluable now
that the administrative conditions are altered by generalnotification of pulmonary tuberculosis and by the pro-spect of sanatorium provision being available on a largescale. There are three school nurses for the city whosework is combined with that of health visiting. In the latterduties the rule that no notes should be taken by the healthvisitor at the homes is at first sight arbitrary, but has muchto commend it. The results of inquiries made as to the
practice of different towns in dealing with tuberculous meatshow that while the recommendations of the Royal Com-mission of 1898 are usually taken as the standard they arefrequently departed from. In York the entire carcass is notcondemned when tuberculous lesions are present in both
body cavities but are "in the early stages," or even
when they are present in the muscular system or
in the lymphatic glands embedded in the muscles.Cases in which the latter conditions obtain do not oftencome under notice in meat inspection, but when they dothere is usually substantial ground for total condemnation.The employment of a veterinary meat inspector, who actswith the sanitary inspectors in systematic inspection of thenumerous private slaughter-houses, has had satisfactoryresults, while butchers, as a result of their system of insur-ance, show an increasing disposition to consult the sanitaryauthorities in all cases of doubt. In advising on thedestruction of rats Dr. Smith lays stress on the advantagesof using bacterial virus and on the harmlessness of the virusto man. The latter statement needs the qualification thatthe virus should not be allowed to contaminate food or placeswhere food is kept. A substantial beginning appears to havebeen made in applying the provisions of the Housing Actand regulations to insanitary property in York.
Metropolitan Borrough of Wandsroo’1’th.-A bulky volumehas lately been issued by the borough council which com-prises a mass of information relating its general administra-tion up to March 31st, 1911, and includes the reports of themedical officer of health and the public analyst for 1910.These show that the proportion of samples of foods takenunder the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts which proved to beadulterated or otherwise unsatisfactory was as high as 9 percent., a figure attributed mainly to greater discrimination inthe selection of the samples and to the improved methodsemployed in obtaining them. Among the adulterations
ireported the substitution for arrowroot of a flour containing90 per cent. of tapioca may be mentioned. As Dr. P. CaldwellSmith points out, a comparison of the price paid for thearrowroot, Is. 6d. a pound, with that usually paid for
tapioca, 3d. a pound, shows that a large profit may beobtained by this practice. The amount of boron preservativein some samples of prepared meats was exceptionally high,in one case (sausages) reaching 55 grains per pound. Pro-
ceedings were taken against certain of the vendors and convic-tions obtained. This was also the case with a sample of cocoacontaining 33 per cent. of extraneous shell, and with severalsamples where margarine was substituted for butter. The
penalties usually imposed in these cases seem, however, to bemuch too small. A fine of .f:1, or even .f:5, is not enough toact as a deterrent to the practice of gross and profitablefrauds such as are recorded in these reports. We would liketo see more drastic action, for example, in the case of skimmilk found to contain 44 per cent. of added water, or of thevendor who carries unadulterated milk in his large churn forthe benefit of inspectors and casual purchasers, while
habitually distributing adulterated milk in small cans to hisregular customers.
VITAL STATISTICS.
HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.
IN the 94 largest English towns having an estimatedpopulation of 17.559.219 persons in the middle of this year,8793 births and 5194 deaths were registered during the weekending March 2nd. The annual rate of mortality in thesetowns, which had decreased from 21’ 6 to 16 8 per 1000 in the
three preceding weeks, further declined to 15 4 per 1000 inthe week under notice. During the first nine weeks of thecurrent quarter the mean annual death-rate in these largetowns averaged 17 0 per 1000, while in London duringthe same period the average death-rate did not exceed16 2 per 1000. The annual death-rates last week in theseveral towns ranged from 3 5 in Acton, 6’4 in Wallaseyand Darlingr,on, 7-5 in Ilford, and 8 0 in Lincoln, to 23-7 7in Ipswich, 23-8 in Huddersfield, 24 6 in Merthyr Tydfil,24 9 in Gloucester, and 26- 8 in Great Yarmouth.The 5194 deaths from all causes last week were 451 fewer
than the number in the previous week, and included 394which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases,against numbers declining from 435 to 353 in the three pre-ceding weeks. These 394 deaths from the principal epidemicdiseases included 142 which resulted from whooping-cough,109 from measles, 53 from diphtheria, 49 from infantilediarrhoeal diseases, 21 from scarlet fever, and 20 fromenteric fever, but not one from small-pox. The meanannual death-rate from these diseases last week was equalto 1 2 per 1000, against 1-1 and 1-0 in the two
preceding weeks. The deaths attributed to whooping-cough,which had decreased from 186 to 147 in the three precedingweeks, again declined to 142 last week, and caused thehighest annual death-rates of 2 2 in Tottenham, 2 3 inWest Bromwich, 2-8 in Walsall, and 38 in MerthyrTvdfil. The deaths referred to measles, which had been 98,69, and 88 in the three preceding weeks, rose to 109 lastweek ; the highest annual death-rates from this diseasewere 1’7 7 in Rhondda, 22 in Manchester, 2.5 5 in York, 2.7 7in Salford, and 2 8 in Warrington. The fatal cases of
diphtheria, which had declined from 71 to 44 in thefour preceding weeks, rose to 53 last week, and included 23in London and its 14 suburban districts, and 2 each inBirmingham, Grimsby, Manchester, Huddersfield, Rother-
ham, and Newcastle-on-Tyne. The deaths of infantsunder two years of age attributed to diarrhoeal diseases,which had been 49, 58, and 39 in the three precedingweeks, rose to 49 last week ; 23 deaths occurred inLondon and its suburban districts, and 3 each in Liverpool,Manchester, Salford, and Cardiff. The deaths referred toscarlet fever, which had been 22, 28, and 17 in the threepreceding weeks, rose to 21 last week, and included 3 inBirmingham, and 2 each in London, Manchester, Preston,Huddersfield, and Leeds. The 20 fatal cases of enteric feverwere 2 in excess of the average in the eight preceding weeksof the current quarter; 4 deaths were registered in
Manchester, and 2 each in London, Salford, and Cardiff.The number of scarlet fever patients under treatment in
the Metropolitan Asylums and in the London Fever Hospital,which had decreased from 1512 to 1427 during the three pre-ceding weeks, had further declined to 1392 on Saturday last;160 new cases of this disease were admitted to these institu-tions during the week, against 178, 154, and 181 in thethree previous weeks. These hospitals also containedon Saturday last 1136 cases of diphtheria, 462 of whooping-cough, 222 of measles, and 64 of enteric fever, but not oneof small-pox. The 1228 deaths from all causes recorded inLondon were 106 fewer than the number in the previousweek, and were equal to an annual death-rate of 14 2 per1000 The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratorysystem, which had decreased from 545 to 352 in the threepreceding weeks, further declined to 295 last week, andwere 23 below the number registered in the correspondingweek of last year.
Of the 5194 deaths in the 94 large towns, 172 resultedfrom different forms of violence, and 374 were the
subject of coroners’ inquests. The causes of 34, or 0-7 7per cent., of the deaths registered last week were notcertified either by a registered medical practitioner or by acoroner after inquest. All the causes of death were dulycertified in Sheffield, Leeds, Bristol, West Ham, Bradford,Hull, Nottingham, Portsmouth, and in 66 other smallertowns. The 34 uncertified causes of death last week in-cluded 6 in Birmingham, 4 in London, and 2 each inStoke-on-Trent, Dadley, St. Helens, Burnley, Blackburn, andSunderland.
____
HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.
In the 18 largest Scotch towns, having an estimated popu-lation of 2,182,400 persons in the middle of this year, 1175births and 784 deaths were registered during the week
677VITAL STATISTICS.
ending March 2nd. The annual rate of mortality in thesetowns, which had decreased from 22’ 8 to 18’ 5 per 1000in the three preceding weeks, rose to 18-7 per 1000 in theweek under notice. During the first nine weeks of thecurrent quarter the mean annual rate of mortality in thesetowns averaged 19 1 per 1000, and was 2’ 1 per 1000 inexcess of the mean rate recorded during the same period inthe large English towns. The annual death-rates in theseveral Scotch towns last week ranged from 10-3 in Kirk-caldy, 12’9 in Clydebank, and 13 3 in Aberdeen, to 22’5 5in Hamilton and in Kilmarnock, and 24 - 0 in Greenock.The 784 deaths from all causes were 9 in excess of the
number in the preceding week, and included 93 which werereferred to the principal epidemic diseases, against numberssteadily rising from 89 to 120 in the five preceding weeks. Ofthese 93 deaths, 56 resulted from measles, 16 from whooping-cough, 9 from diphtheria, 6 from scarlet fever, 5 frominfantile diarrhoeal diseases, and 1 from enteric fever, butnot one from small-pox. These 93 deaths from the prin-cipal epidemic diseases were equal to an annual death-rate of 2-2 2 per 1000, or 1-0 per 1000 above thatrecorded in the 94 large English towns. The deathsattributed to measles, which had averaged 62 in thethree preceding weeks, declined to 56 last week,and included 27 in Glasgow, 7 in Greenock, 5 in
Edinburgh, and 5 in Kilmarnock. The deaths referred to
whooping-cough, which had been 14 and 18 in the two
preceding weeks, slightly declined to 16, and of thisnumber 4 were registered in Glasgow, 3 in Edinburgh, and2 in Dundee. The fatal cases of diphtheria, which hadbeen 6 and 22 in the two previous weeks, fell to 9 last week,and included 4 in Glasgow and 2 in Edinburgh. The 6deaths attributed to scarlet fever were 3 in excess of thenumber in the previous week, and included 2 in Glasgow and2 in Aberdeen. The deaths of infants referred to diar-rhoeal diseases, which had been 14 and 11 in the two pre-ceding weeks, further declined to 5 last week. The fatalcase of enteric fever was recorded in Kitkcaldy.The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory system
in the 18 towns, which had decreased from 220 to 192 inthe three preceding weeks, further declined to 138 in theweek under notice, and 24 deaths were attributed to differentforms of violence.
____
-
HEALTH OF IRISH TOWNS.
In the 22 town districts of Ireland, having an estimatedpopulation of 1,157,014 persons in the middle of this year,673 births and 490 deaths were registered during the weekending March 2nd. The annual rate of mortality in thesetowns, which had decreased from 31 0 to 24 6 per 1000in the three preceding weeks, further declined to 22 1 per1000 in the week under notice. During the first nine weeksof the current quarter the mean annual death-rate in theseIrish towns averaged 23 5 per 1000 ; in the 94 large Englishtowns the mean annual death-rate during the same period didnot exceed 17 0 per 1000, while in the 18 Scotch towns it wasequal to 19-1 per 1000. The annual death-rates in the severalIrish towns last week were equal to 24 9 in Dublin (against14-2 in London), 21 6 in Belfast, 21 1 in Cork, 12-7 inLondonderry, 16-3 in Limerick, and 19 0 in Waterford;while in the 16 smallest of these Irish towns the death-ratelast week was equal to 21’ 0 per 1000.The 490 deaths from all causes in the 22 Irish towns
were 55 fewer than the number in the previous week.and included 36 which were referred to the principalepidemic diseases, against numbers declining from 49 to 27in the three preceding weeks ; of these 36 deaths, 16 resultedfrom whooping-cough, 9 from diarrhoeal diseases, 5 frommeasles, 3 from scarlet fever, and 3 from diphtheria, but notone from enteric fever or from small-pox. These 36 deaths fromthe principal epidemic diseases were equal to an annual deacb-rate of 1 6 per 1000 ; the death-rate last week from thesediseases did not exceed 1 - 2 per 1000 in the 94 large Englishtowns, while in the 18 Scotch towns it was equal to 2 2. Thedeaths attributed to whooping cough, which had declinedfrom 25 to 14 in the three preceding weeks, rose to 16last week, and included 11 in Belfast and 3 in Dublin.The deaths of infants referred to diarrhaeal disea-es, whichhad been 8 and 5 in the two previous weeks, rose to 9last week ; 4 deaths were recorded in Dublin, 2 in Belfast,and 2 in ,Clonmel. The 5 fatal ca,3es of measles wereequal to the average in the three preceding weeks, and
were all registered in Dublin. The 3 deaths referred toscarlet fever, and the 3 fatal cases of diphtheria were
also registered in Dublin.The deaths referred to diseases of the respiratory system,
which had decreased from 239 to 189 in the three precedingweeks, further declined to 135 last week. Of the 490 deaths fromall causes in the 22 Irish towns, 142, or 29 per cent., occurredin public institutions, and 7 resulted from different forms ofviolence. The causes of 17, or 3 - 5 per cent., of the totaldeaths were not certified either by a registered medical prac-titioner or by a coroner after inquest; in the 94 largeEnglish towns the proportion of uncertified causes of deathsin the week under notice did not exceed 0 - 7 per cent.
VITAL STATISTICS OF LONDON DURING JANUARY, 1912.
IN the accompanying table will be found summarised
complete statistics relating to sickness and mortality in theCity of London and in each of the metropolitan boroughs.With regard to the notified cases of infectious diseases, itappears that the number of persons reported to be suffer-
ing from one or other of the ten diseases specified in thetable was equal to an annual rate of 5’3 3 per 1000 of thepopulation, estimated at 4,519,754 persons in the middle ofthe year. In the three preceding months the rates were
8-5, 7 - 8, and 6’3 3 per 1000 respectively. The lowest rateslast month were recorded in Paddington, Hammersmith, Cityof Westminster, Stoke Newington, and Shoreditch; and thehighest rates in Hampstead, St. Pancras, Holborn. Deptford,and Greenwich. Three cases of small-pox, all belonging toWoolwich, were notified last month, none having been notifiedin London during the six preceding months ; 2 cases remainedunder treatment in a Metropolitan Asylums Hospital at theend of the month. The prevalence of scarlet fever con-tinued to show a decline ; this disease was proportionallymost prevalent last month in Fulham, Chelsea, St. Maryle-bone, Deptford, Greenwich, and Woolwich. The Metro-
patients at the end of the month, against 2152, 2103, and1878 at the end of the three preceding months ; the weeklyadmissions averaged 165, against 317, 254, and 198 in thethree preceding months. Diphtheria was slightly less
prevalent than it had been in the preceding month; thegreatest proportional prevalence of this disease was re-
corded in Hampstead, St. Pancras, Holborn, Poplar,Greenwich, and Lewisham. The number of diphtheriapatients under treatment in the Metropolitan AsylumsHospitals, which had been 1143, 1327, and 1294 at theend of the three preceding months, had further declinedto 1191 at the end of last month ; the weekly admissionsaveraged 134, against 168 and 180 in the two precedingmonths. Enteric fever also was less prevalent than in theprevious month ; this disease was proportionally most pre-valent last month in Bethnal Green, Stepney, Poplar,Southwark, Bermondsey, and Lambeth. There were 49enteric fever patients under treatment in the MetropolitanAsylums Hospitals at the end of last month, against 160, 85,and 76 at the end of the three preceding months ; the weeklyadmissions averaged 8, against 9 in each of the two precedingmonths. Erysipelas was proportionally most prevalent inHolborn, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Poplar, Battersea, andDeptford. The 39 cases of puerperal fever notified duringthe month included 5 in Kensington, 5 in Stepney, 4 inFulham, and 3 each in the City of Westminster, Poplar,Southwark, and Camberwell. Ten cases of cerebro-spinalmeningitis, including 3 in Paddington; and 4 of polio-myelitis, including 2 in Camberwell, were notified during themonth.The mortality statistics in the table relate to the deaths of
persons actually belonging to the several boroughs, the deathsoccurring in institutions having been distributed amongthe boroughs in which the deceased persons had pre-viously resided; the death-rates from all causes are furthercorrected for variations in the sex- and age-constitutionof the populations of the several boroughs. Duringthe five weeks ending Feb. 3rd the deaths of 6736London residents were registered, equal to an annualrate of 16 - 3 per 1000 ; in the three preceding monthsthe rates had been 15-1, 14 1. and 16-1 per 1000. Thedeath-rates last month ranged from 11-7 in Hampstead,13-1 in Wandsworth, 13 6 in Stoke Newington, 13-9 in
Lewisham, 14 - 0 in Camberwell, and 14 - 2 in Hackney, to 19 - 2
678 VITAL STATISTICS OF LONDON DURING JANUARY, 1912.
679THE SERVICES.
in Chelsea, 19-6 in Bermondsey, 20-2 in Poplar, 20-7 inFinsbury, 21 . 2 in Shoreditch, and 22’1 1 in the City of London.The 6736 deaths from all causes included 310 which werereferred to the principal epidemic diseases; of these, 1resulted from small-pox, 63 from measles, 9 from scarletfever, 55 from diphtheria, 78 from whooping-cough, 16 fromenteric fever, and 88 from diarrhoea, and enteritis amongchildren under 2 years of age. The lowest death-rates fromthese diseases in the aggregate were recorded in Hammer-smith, Stoke Newington, Holborn, Bethnal Green, Camber-well, and Woolwich; and the highest rates in Shoreditch,Poplar, Bermondsey, Deptford, and Greenwich. The 63deaths from measles were 151 below the corrected averagefor the corresponding period of the five preceding years ; thegreatest proportional mortality from this disease was recordedin Paddington, Islington, Bermondsey, Deptford, andGreenwich. The 9 fatal cases of scarlet fever showed adecline of 34 from the corrected average number. The 55deaths from diphtheria were 31 below the average ; thisdisease was proportionally most fatal in Hampstead,St. Pancras, Shored itch, Poplar, and Bermondsey. The 78fatal cases of whooping-cough were 74 fewer than thecorrected average number ; the greatest proportional mor-tality from this disease was recorded in Paddington,Islington, Shored itch, Poplar, and Greenwich. The 16deaths from enteric fever were 6 below the average, andincluded 4 in Lambeth, 2 in Stepney, and 2 in Lewisham.The mortality from diarrhoea and enteritis among childrenunder two years of age was proportionally greatest inSt. Pancras, Finsbury, Shoreditch, and Stepney. In con-
clusion, it may be stated that the aggregate mortality inLondon last month from the principal epidemic diseases(excluding diarrhoea) was 40 per cent. below the average.
THE SERVICES.
ROYAL NAVY MEDICAL SERVICE.THE following appointments have been notified :-Fleet-
Surgeons : R. A. Ross to the Hindustan; H. W. Gordon-Green to the Oollingwood; and R. J. MacKeown to the
Tranguard. Staff-Surgeon: W. K. Hopkins to the <7owMKoM-avecclt7c. Surgeons: J. C. F. D. Vaughan to the TTicnguard ; ’
H. B. German to the OoUing1’/:ood; and M. H. Langford tothe halcyon, additional, for the Span7eer.
ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.
Lieutenant-Colonel William A. Morris is placed on retiredpay (dated March lst, 1912).Major William Hallaran to be Lieutenant-Colonel vice
W. A. Morris (dated March 1st, 1912).The undermentioned Captains to be Majors (dated
Feb. 29th, 1912): Francis P. Lauder and John Tobin.Surgeon-General J. G. MacNeece has been selected for
appointment as Principal Medical Officer of the SouthernCommand, in succession to Surgeon-General H. R. White-head, C.B., with effect from April lst. i
Colonel R. 1. D. Hackett, principal medical officer of the I
Karachi Brigade, has been granted six months’ combined leaveof absence home from India. Colonel W. W. Pike, D. S. 0.,lately senior medical officer at Cairo, has taken up duty asPrincipal Medical Officer of the Bombay Brigade, in suc-
cession to Colonel R. H. Forman, honorary surgeon to H.E.the Viceroy, who has been placed on retired pay. ColonelW. G. Macpherson, C.M.G., principal medical officer of theFourth (Quetta) Division, has been appointed an HonorarySurgeon to the King.
Lieutenant-Colonel M. J. Sexton, lately holding medicalcharge of the Military Hospital, Arbor Hill, Dublin, hastaken up duty at Wynberg. Lieutenant-Colonel J. Donaldson,in charge of the isolation hospital at Aldershot, hasembarked for a tour of duty in India. Lieutenant-Colonel E. A. Burnside, from Golden Hill, has been appointedto command the Station Hospital at Bellary, MadrasPresidency. Lieutenant-Colonel J. M. F. Shine, on returnfrom Fyzabad, has been appointed Senior Medical Officer atJersey, vice Lieutenant-Colonel F. P. Nichols. Lieutenant-Colonel L. T. M. Nash, on completion of a tour of service inIndia, at Karachi, has been appointed to hold charge of theMilitary Hospital at Hounslow. Lieutenant-Colonel T. G.
Lavie, at present serving at Queenstown, has been placedunder orders for a tour of service in Malta.Major R. W. Clements, specialist sanitary officer of the
Ninth (Secunderabad) Division, has been appointed to thesubstantive charge of the enteric fever convalescent depot atWellington, on relief by Captain W. R. Galwey. Major L.Humphry, specialist in advanced operative surgery to theSixth (Poona) Division, has been granted six months’ generalleave of absence home from India, with effect fromMarch 30th. Major E. P. Connolly, on arrival in India for atour of service from Cardiff, has been posted to the Second(Rawal Pindi) Division. Major H. Herrick has beentransferred from Hyderabad to the Station Hospital at NainiTal. Major G. M. Goldsmith, from Maymyo, has been
appointed to command the Station Hospital at Thayetmyo,Burma. Major H. H. Norman, from Kasauli, has taken upduty at Shwebo. Major H. S. Roch has been transferredfrom Lincoln to the Military Hospital at York for duty.Major J. M. Cuthbert, from Leith, has been appointed to theMilitary Hospital at Edinburgh. Major A. Chopping hasbeen transferred from Cherat to Peshawar. Major J. G.MacNaught, on completion of a tour of service in SouthAfrica, has been appointed to the Aldershot Command.
Major E. C. Freeman has been granted by the War Office oneyear’s extension of his appointment as Staff Officer to theAdministrative Medical Officer of the East Anglian Division.
Captain T. J. Potter, specialist in bacteriology, has leftthe London District for service in Egypt. Captain E. V.Aylen, specialist in dermatology, Fourth (Quetta) Division,has been granted eight months’ general leave of absencehome from India. Captain H. Rogers, stationed at FortWestmoreland, has been placed under orders for a tour ofservice in Malta. Captain A. H. Bond, from Naini Tal. hasjoined the Station Hospital at Delhi for duty. Captain C. T.Connyngham has been appointed Specialist in Dermatologyand Venereal Diseases to the Fourth (Quetta) Division.
Captain J. A. Bennett has been appointed Specialist in X raysand Electrical Science to the Sixth (Poona) Division.
Captain D. M. Corbett has been granted eight months’general leave of absence home from India. Captain R. F.O’T. Dickinson has been transferred from Jhansi to theStation Hospital at Bareilly. Captain F. A. McCammon, atpresent serving at Poona, has been placed under orders forduty at Colaba. Captain B. A. Craig and Captain H. M. J.Perry have arrived home on duty from Hong-Kong; theformer has been posted to Aldershot and the latter to theEastern Command.
Lieutenant H. S. Blackmore and Lieutenant M. Drummondhave been posted to the London District. Lieutenant E. S.Calthorpe has been appointed to Queen Alexandra MilitaryHospital at Millbank for duty. Lieutenant A. W. Bevis,Lieutenant ]’,1. J. Williamson, and Lieutenant C. L. Franklinhave embarked for a tour of service in South Africa.Lieutenant T. vV. Stallybrass has joined for service in Egypt.Lieutenant P. S. Tomlinson has embarked for a tour of dutyin India.
INDIAN MEDICAL SERVICE.
Lieutenant-Colonel H. Fooks, at present holding medicalcharge of the 15th Lancers (Careton’s Multanis) at Risalpur,has been selected for appointment as officiating PrincipalMedical Officer of the Aden Brigade during the absence onleave of Lieutenant-Colonel H. F. Cleveland. The servicesof Lieutenant-Colonel B. B. Grayfoot have been placed at thedisposal of the Government of Bombay. Lieutenant-ColonelJ. Crimmin, V.C., C.I.E., has been appointed PresidencySurgeon of the Third District in Bombay. Lieutenant-Colonel A. Colman, civil surgeon at Rawal Pindi, has beengranted one month’s leave of absence.On relief by Major T. G. N. Stokes of the office of
Sanitary Commissioner of the Central Provinces, Major W. H.Kenrick has been placed on special duty in connexion withthe prevention of malarial fevers in the Central Provinces.Major T. S. Horley has been transferred as District MedicalOfficer at Madura. The services of Major L. E. Gilbert havebeen placed at the disposal of the Government of Madras.Major H. Bennett has been selected for appointment as CivilSurgeon at Karachi. Major R. G. Turner on return fromleave has been posted as Civil Surgeon at Naini Tal. Theservices of Major C. M. Matthew have been placed at thedisposal of the Government of India for employment at
Madras as Officiating Medical Storekeeper. Major H. J. K.Bamfield has been appointed Specialist in Midwifery and
