737MEDICAL DIARY.-EDITORIAL NOTICES.

"Warning. Simple Fire Precautions for the Blind." Inthe Braille the word " simple is not repeated. Theomission may be intentional. Precautions are doubtlessnot so simple for the blind as to those who see. The noticesare suitable for fixing on walls as posters, but in that casethey must, of course, be placed within reach of the fingersof the blind. The total number of blind folk in the BritishIsles is estimated at between 30,000 and 40,000, and thereare many schools, homes, workshops, and institutions fortheir benefit in which these posters would be of service.The committee has decided to provide the warningafter receiving information from various quarters thatnothing so far had been done for the blind in this regard.Their enterprise is commendable. The official title of theposter is "Free issue for the Blind, No. 29." It is to beobtained from the General Honorarv Secretary, Mr. EllisMarsland, 8, Waterloo-place, Pall Mall, London, S.W.

THE PROLIFICITY OF OPPOSITE TWINS.

To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-There is a popular and apparently widely knownbelief that in the case of twins of opposite sexes the girl isinvariably sterile, and I should be grateful to any of yourreaders who can adduce evidence in disproof of this.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,Oct. 13th, 1916. H. S. S.

*** We have never heard of this as a supposition. As afact, we know a lady who has a twin brother, 14 children,and 19 grandchildren.-ED. L.

SPHAGNUM MOSS.

A STRONG appeal has been issued by the authorities of theAuxiliary Hospital, Southernhay, Exeter, for sphagnummoss. It is stated that large quantities are required, andit is advised that this should be sent in before the winterrains make it difficult to gather. The secretaries, Bedford-buildings, Tavistock, Devon, add that it is the duty ofevery person residing near areas where sphagnum mossgrows to send a liberal supply to the hospitals, andassistance is also required from people to clean and drythe moss.

COMMUNICATIONS not noticed in our present issue willreceive attention in our next.

Medical Diary for the ensuing Week.SOCIETIES.

ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE, 1. Wimpole-street. W.MEETINGS OF SECTIONS.

Wednesday, Oct. 25th.HISTORY OF MEDICINE (Hon. Secretaries-J. D. Rolleston, CharlesSinger): at 5 P.M.Presidential Address :Dr. Raymond Crawfurd : Legends and Lore of the genesis of the

Healing Art.Thursday, Oct. 26th.

NEUROLOGY (Hon. Secretaries-H. Campbell Thomson, C. M. HindsHowell) : at 8.30 P.M.Presidential Address :

Prof. W. D. Halliburton, F.R.S.: The Possible Functions of theCerebro-Spinal Fluid.

Friday, Oct. 27th.STUDY OF DISEASE IN CHILDREN (Hon. Secretaries-A. S.Blundell Bankart, E. A. Cockayne, C. P. Lapage): at 4.30 P.M.Cases:Dr. F. Parkes Weber: Case of Cerebral Diplegia with Excessive

Mobility (Atony) of Joints.Dr. F. Langmead: A Family showing Cleido-cranio-dysostosis.Dr. C. E. Lakin : Case of Intra thoracio NeopJasm.Dr. E. A. Cockayne : (1) Juvenile G.P.I. with Hypo-pituitarism;

(2) Werdnig-Hoffmann Type of Progressive Muscular Atrophy.EPIDEMIOLOGY AND STATE MEDICINE (Hon. Secretaries-William Butler, Major Greenwood, jun.) : at 8.30 P.M.Paper: :Capt. C. G. Moor: Work of a Sanitary Section at a Base.

MEDICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, 11, Chandos-street, Cavendish-square, W.MONDAY.-8.30 P.M., Mr. D. MeO. Aitken: Demonstration of Cases

illustrating Orthopaedic Principles and Methods in MilitarySurgery.

LECTURES, ADDRESSES, DEMONSTRATIONS, &c.POST-GRADUATE COLLEGE, West London Hospital, Hammersmith-road, W,MONDAY.-2 P.M., Medical and Surgical Clinics. X Rays. Mr. Gray:

Operations. Mr. B. Ha man : Diseases of the Eye. Dr. Simson: Diseases of Women. )

TUESDAY.-2 P.M., Medical and Surgical Clinics. X Rays. Mr.Baldwin : Operations. Dr. Banks Davis: Diseases of the Throat,Nose. and Ear. Dr. Pernet : Diseases of the Skin.

WEDNESDAY.—10 A M.,Dr. Saunders: Diseases of Children. Dr. BanksDavis : Operations of the Throat, Nose. and Ear. 2 P.M., Medicaland Surgical Clinics. X Rays. Mr. Pardoe : Operations. Dr.Simson: Diseases of Women.

THURSDAY.-2 P.M.. Medical and Surgical Clinics. X Rays. Mr. Gray:Operations. Mr. B. Harman : Diseases of the Eye.

FRIDAY.-10 A.M., Dr. Simson: Gynzecological Operations. 2 P.M.,Medical and Surgical Clinics. X Rays. Mr. Baldwin: Opera-tions. Dr. Banks Davis : Diseases of the Throat, Nose, aud Ear.Dr. Pernet : Diseases of the Skin.

SATURDAY.—10 A.M., Dr. Saunders : Diseases of Children. Dr. BanksDavis : Operations of the Throat, Nose, and Ear. Mr. B. Harman :Eye Operations. 2 P.M., Medical and Surgical Clinics. X Rays.Mr. Pardoe: Operations.

NORTH-EAST LONDON POST-GRADUATE COLLEGE, Prince ofWales’s General Hospital, Tottenham, N.MONDAY.-Clinics :-10.30 A.M., Surgical Out-patients (Mr. E.

Gillespie). 2 30 P.M., Medical Out-patients (Dr. T. R. Whipham):Gynaecological Out-patients (Dr. Banister). 3 P.M., MedicalIn-patients (Dr. R. M. Leslie).

TUESDAY.-2.30 P.M., Surgical Operations (Mr. Carson). Clinics:-Medical Out patients (Dr. A. G. Auld); Surgical Out-patients(Mr. Howell Evans); Nose, Throat, and Ear Out-patients (Mr.C. H. Hayton). Radiography (Dr. Metcalfe). 3.30 P.M., MedicalIn-patients (Dr. A. J. Whiting).

WEDNESDAY.-Clinics:- 2.30 PM., Throat Operations (Mr. C. H.Hayton). Children Out patients (Dr. T. R. Whipham); Eye Out-patients (Mr. R. P Brooks); Skin Out patients (Dr. H. W.Barber). 5.30 P.M., Eye Operations (Mr. R. P. Brooks).

THURSDAY.-2.30 P.M , Gynæcological Operations (Dr. A. E. Giles).Clinics :-Medical Out-patients (Dr. A. J. Whiting) ; SurgicalOut-patients (Mr. Carson) ; Radiography (Dr. Metcalfe). 3 P.M.,Medical In-patients (Dr. R. M. Leslie).

FRIDAY.-2.30 P.M., Surgical Operations (Mr. Howell Evans).Clinics:--Medical Out-patients (Dr. A. G. Auld); Surgical Out-patients (Mr. E. Gillespie) ; Eye Out-patients (Mr. R. P. Brooks).

ST. JOHN’S HOSPITAL FOR DISEASES OF THE SKIN, 49, Leicester-square, W.C.TUESDAY.-4 P.M., Dr. C. Kempster : X Rays. The Tube and its

Control.THURSDAY.-6 P.M., Chesterfield Lecture :-Dr. M. Dockrell :

! Anomalies of Pigmentation and what they Indicate.

THE THROAT HOSPITAL, Golden-square, W.MONDAY. -5.15 P.M., Special Demonstration of Selected Cases.THURSDAY.-5.15 P.M., Clinical Lecture.

METEOROLOGICAL READINGS.(Taken daily at 8.30 a.m. by Steward’s Instruments.)

THE LANCET Office, Oct. 18th, 1916.

EDITORIAL NOTICES.IT is most important that communications relating to the

Editorial business of THE LANCET should be addressedexclusively " To THE EDITOR," and not in any case to anygentleman who may be supposed to be connected with theEditorial staff. It is urgently necessary that attention shouldbe given to this notice. -

It is especially requested that early intelligence of localevents having a medical interest, or which it is desirableto bring under the notice of the profession, may be sentdirect to this office.

Lectures, original articles, and reports should be written onone side of the paper only, and when accompanied byblocks it is requested that the name of the author, and if fpossible of the article, should be written on the blocks to

facilitate identification.Letters, whe ther intended for insertion or for private informa-

tion, mu st be authenticated by the names and addressesof their writers-not necessarily for publication.

We cannot prescribe or recommend practitioners.Local papers containing reports or news paragraphs should- be marked and addressed " To the Sub-Editor."Letters relating to the publication, sale, and advertising

departments of THE LANCET should be addressed °’ Tothe Manager."

We cannot undertake to return MSS. not used.

Offices: 423, STRAND, LONDON, W.C.