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upright, thus giving a real support to the crutch in theaxilla. To the front pair are attached two arm-rests (A A).These are of steel encased in thick leather and are whenthus covered with leather about six inches long and aninch and a half wide. They revolve horizontally round a bitof steel attached to the bamboo, and are so made that theycan be taken off easily. The jacket is in halves, jointedbelow over the sacrum with a leather hinge (D) ; abovethere is an open space (0) at the upper part of the back,across which lcops of cane are tightly drawn to support theback. In front the jacket reaches barely to the anteriorsuperior iliac spine on either side, and is held in place byleather straps across the abdomen. It should be well

rounded off in front, or it will give pain on flexure of thethigh ; and laterally it should reach to the great trochanters.There is a window on each side for coolness. A strap iscarried across the front of the chest, not tightly for chestfixation, but to prevent the arms slipping forward over thefront of the axillary crutches. If drawn tight this strapinterferes with the breathing. I secure chest fixation andclose adjustment of the upper part of the jacket to the bodyby carrying a loop of flannel bandage across each shoulderfrom the upper corner of the window of one side behind tothat of the other side in front. This also checks the tendencyof the jacket to slew round to the right with the movementsof the body. The axillary crutch is made by bending overthe edge of the leather on itself when moulding it to thebody. On the top of this I fasten a bit of pneumatic bicycletyre filled with water and tied with twine at both ends. This

gives great comfort, for the support of this crutch is veryreal, and chafing is apt to result. The crutch must not betoo thick or it will press against the inner side of the armand give pain. The jacket is worn over the flannel shirt anddrawers and the trousers are suspended from one of its

straps. The waistcoat is slit up on either side over theanterior bamboo upright to let through the arm-rest. The

arm-rest is covered and concealed by the coat-flap. Points in

its favour are: (1) the arm-rests enable the weight of theupper part of the body to be swung through the shoulderfrom the elbows; (2) the posterior uprights resting on theseat give real support and are of special service, say, inpulling on boots or holding in a bard-mouthed pony; and(3) it is cool, cleanly, and efficient, and is easily made.

T. LAW GASKIN, M.R.C.S. Eng., L.R.C.P. Edin.St. Michael’s, Barbados, West Indies.

THE "POISONING PREVENTER" LABEL.

THIS label has a vertical column of plainly-printed figuresnumbered from above downwards-say, from 1 to 12,corresponding to the successive doses of medicine containedin the bottle to which it is affixed. Opposite each of thesefigures there are spaces for writing down the hour andminute at which a dose is given. In this way many of the

possibilities of error in the administration of medicines shouldbe removed. The label is printed in various colours andmeasurements to suit standard bottles ; and it is fixed onthe narrower side of a bottle, with its marks to coincidewith those on the bottle; or it can be used on a standardbottle which has no divisions. The label, which is patented,may be obtained from Mr. C. J. Whistler Hanson, 24,Harrington-square, London, N.W.

RECEPTACLE FOR MILK OR OTHER LIQUIDS.

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THE illustration represents a new receptacle for holding’milk or other liquids intended for human consumption. It

is adapted for use alike in hospitals and in private houses, andis so constructed that the access of dust, flies, and othersources of contamination is entirely prevented, while at thesame time the withdrawal of the contents is easy and cooling

by means of ice is provided for. The apparatus is made of

tinned sheet iron, zinc, copper, or earthenware. The

cylindrical container has a double casing, with water in theannular space between the inner and the outer wall. Insidethe container there are removeable tubular vessels which canbe filled with ice when required ; two of these are shown in

the illustration. A cylindrical bell-shaped cover dips into the

water. A stirrer passing through the closed end of the belland turned by means of a handle outside serves to mix thecontents uniformly. When admission of air is required it isfiltered by passing through sterilised felt contained in an

air-tap outside the closed end of the bell. The receptacle ismade in sizes to hold from a quart to 100 gallons. The

patentee and manufacturer is Mr. W. T. Lawson, Hill Crest,Beech Lanes, Birmingham.

HEALTH OF ST. IVES.-Mr. J. M. Nicholls, themedical officer of health of St. Ives, Cornwall, in hisannual report for 1900, states that the birth-rate was equal to31-62 per 1000, as compared with 34’62 per 1000 in 1899.The death-rate was 18-87 per 1000, as compared with 15 75per 1000 in 1899. Seven deaths were from zymotic diseases,including four from diphtheria and two from diarrhoea.The infant mortality was at the rate of 186 deaths per 1000births. 49 cases of infectious diseases were notified, includ-ing eight of diphtheria, 10 of typhoid fever (in all of. whichthe patients recovered), four of continued fever, and 22 oferysipelas.

HEALTH OF SIDMOUTH.-Dr. T. H. S. Pullin,the medical officer of health of Sidmouth, Devon, in hisannual report for 1900 states that during the year the birth-rate was 17 per 1000. The death-rate, if the deaths of 12visitors to the town be included, was 15°25 per 1000; ex-cluding the visitors it was 12’25 per 1000. The zymoticdeath-rate was nil, being the fifth consecutive year withouta death from one of the zymotic diseases. Only one caseof infectious disease (enteric fever) was notified during the12 months, the disease having been contracted abroad. Theprevious case of enteric fever was notified one year pre-viously, and Mr. Pullin adds that only one death from thisdisease has been registered in the district during the past20 years.

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