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the closing of those which were beyond repair. At theannual meeting of the committee held on May 24th Mr.Lewis Fry raised a warning note with regard to the pro-vision by municipalities of working-class dwellings the

rentals of which were not sufficient to pay the interest and

repayments upon the original outlay. It was a question,he said, whether they might not create a privileged classwho would hold their dwellings at a low rental by thetaxation of the whole community, and that possibly thatclass might be banded together and use their votes simplyto protect themselves. Mr. Fry further deprecated thedriving of private and voluntary enterprises out of the field.The housing of the working classes is not quite so simple amatter as some ardent reformers would have us believe.

Hospital for Pontypool.Pontypool is the centre of a mining population approach-

ing 50,000 in number and is situated in one of theMonmouthshire valleys which is increasing almost as

rapidly as some of the Glamorganshire colliery districts.The nearest accident hospital to Pontypool is at Newport, andto this institution patients have to be taken a distance ofsome 12 or 15 miles, so that it is hardly surprising to find thatthere is a movement to establish a local cottage hospital. Theinitial steps were taken several months ago and the promotershave succeeded in obtaining as a free gift a freehold siteof two and a half acres. A bequest from the late Mr.Cosslett of Bristol of .11000, with an annual grant of .BIOO,has been secured. Yearly subscriptions amounting to about700 are promised, while the workmen have agreed toconttibute ld. weekly and the colliery proprietors offeranother Id. per week for each man employed by them. Thescheme is therefore well on the way towards realisationand plans have been prepared for a building with accom-modation for 20 beds. Although colliers as a class are

somewhat averse to being treated in a hospital-or, perhaps,it would be more correct to say that the collier’s wife doesnot like her husband to go to a hospital-it has been foundthat this aversion speedily disappears in those localities inwhich hospitals have been established, and at Aberdare,Mountain Ash, Porth, and Bridgend the accident hospitalsare of immense service to the inhabitants.

Ref1lse IJest’J’tlOtor for Taunton.The corporation of Taunton have led the way in so many

municipal enterprises that a refuse destructor might beexpected to be already installed in the town. The first steptowards the erection of what is considered an essential to theproper equipment of a public health department has nowbeen taken and the Local Government Board have been askedto sanction the expenditure of E4500 upon a destructor to beerected at the sewage works. Taunton was the first muni-

cipality in England to establish electric lighting works, andat the present time extensive alterations are going on at thesewage works to adapt the mode of treatment to the septictank method.

ambulance Arrangements at the Royal Agricultural Show.One of the features of the Eisteddfodau which are held in

different parts of Wales has of late years been the ambulancecompetitions and the instruction in first-aid provided in thetechnical instruction classes organised by several countycouncils. The Glamorganshire County Council give specialencouragement to this subject and every police-constable isexpected to obtain a certificate of competency. It appears,however, that at Cardiff, although classes have been heldyet no distinct corps has been formed and the ambulancearrangements in connexion with the Royal Agricultural Showto be held in June at Cardiff have therefore been entrustedto 50 men from the Bristol corps.

The Prevention of Tuberculosis.A largely attended meeting was held at the Weston-super-

Mare Assembly Rooms on May 21st, under the auspices of theNational Association for the Prevention of Consumption andother Forms of Tuberculosis. The Rev. Prebendary de Salis,rector of Weston, presided, and was supported by themajority of the members of the medical profession in thetown and several others, including Colonel Bramble, CaptainPhelp, and Mr. J. Cook. Interesting addresses were deliveredby Dr. Lionel A. Weatherly (Bath) and Dr. H. S. Ballance(the local honorary secretary). A resolution was unani-monsly passed recognising the urgent need of a sanatoriumfor the poorer classes of sufferers from consumption inGloucester, Somerset, and Wilts, and promising to help

forward the scheme by assisting to raise the necessaryfunds.

Society for the Prevéntion of Cr1lelty to Child’1’en.The annual meeting of the Bristol and District branch of

this society was held on May 21st. The repolt stated that553 complaints of cruelty to children had been investigated ;this number was 107 in excess of those for the previous year,the increase being chiefly due to cases of indecent assault,neglect, or starvation. Of the 553 cases 13 were not wellfounded, in 422 warnings only were issued, in 109 prose-cutions were instituted (103 convictions being obtained), andnine were otherwise dealt with. The financial statementwas satisfactory.May 27th.

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SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Plccr/2ce in Scotland.THE Local Government Board of Scotland have just issued’

a memorandum with respect to plague in which it is statedthat, in view of the possibility of the introduction of plagueinto Scotland, the Board will assist in the identification ofthe disease. In suspicious cases on board ship or in the-earliest suspected case or cases newly developing in

any district the Board have arranged for bacteriologicaltesting, without cost to the local authority, of materialfrom such cases. This material can be received only from themedical officer of health. With the memorandum are sentdirections for obtaining and forwarding for bacteriologicalexamination material from suspected plague cases whichhave been drawn up with the assistance of the Council of theRoyal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The opportunityis also taken in the memorandum of reminding medicalofficers of health of the peculiar facility given for theimportation and dissemination of plague by the circumstancethat it affects the lower animals and most especially rats,mice, and by natural Eequence cats, and of the inquirieswhich ought therefore to be made as to evidences of diseasesamong those animals on board ship and the special import-ance of measures for their extermination.

Glasgow University. The programme of the arrangements in connexion withtte celebration of the four-hundred-and-fiftieth anniversaryof the founding of Glasgow University is fairly well com-pleted and the official proceedings are now practically fixed.On June 12th the ceremonies will be inaugurated by a com-memoration service in the Cathedral and in the afternoon ofthe same day the Right Hon. the Earl of Stair, K.T., theOhancellor, and Principal Storey, the Vice-Chancellor, willhold a reception in the Bute Hall, when the various delegateswill be introduced and numerous congratulatory addresseswill be presented ; the evening will be occupied by thestudents’ gaudeamus and by an "at home" in QueenMargaret College. The forenoon of the 13th is set apartfor two orations on famous men formerly connected with theUniversity-the one on James Watt, who did some of hismost important work at the old college, by Lord Kelvin,and the other on Adam Smith, who was for a periodof 15 years a professor in the University, by Pro-fessor William Smart, who is the first occupant of thechair of political economy. Following these orationsthere will be a graduation ceremony at which numeroushonorary degrees will be conferred. On the afternoon of the13th the new botanical laboratories will be opened by SirJoseph Hooker, F.R.S., and there will be a garden party inthe grounds of Queen Margaret College; in the evening a.conversazione will be held in the University buildings atwhich some 2000 guests are expected. The last day of theceremonies, June 14th, includes an oration by Professor JohnYoung, M.D., on William Hunter, the founder of theHunterian museum, a reception of the delegates in the artgalleries and exhibition grounds, and in the evening a.

banquet given by the corporation and a students’ ball at theUniversity. For the convenience of delegates and guestsseveral excursions on the Firth of Clyde have been arrangedfor the day after the close of the official ceremonies. Asketch of the history of the University has been preparedby Mr. Coutts, the assistant clerk of Senate, and, as alreadyannounced, "The Book of the Jubilee" has been published

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by the Students’ Celebration Committee. To this LordRosebery, as Lord Rector, contributes "A Foreword";Principal Storey writes on "The Relation of Civic toAcademic Life " ; and Mr. Andrew Lang, as an old Glasgowstudent, contributes an article on " Glasgow in 1864." Thepoetry includes an ode in Greek by Sir Richard Jebb and an.English ode by Sir Lewis Morris. The volume will form awelcome memento of a most interesting academic anniversary.

Glasgow Southern Medical Society.At a recent meeting of this society it was resolved to send

to the General Medical Council a formal statement of factsbearing on the practice of keeping open surgeries for thesale of drugs by medical men; to represent to the Counciithat this practice is distinctly conserved by the Pharmacy.Amendment Act of 1869, and is in no way a breach of thelaw; and to urge that if an unqualified pharmaceuticalassistant engaged in such a surgery and acting in oppositionto his employer’s instructions sells a scheduled poison this- does not involve any illegal action on the part of the pro-prietor of the surgery. A petition defining the society’sposition in relation to the question at issue was read andapproved.1

Gtasgow Special Hospitals.The annual meeting of the Glasgow Ear Hospital was

’held on May 24th. The medical report revealed a steadyincrease in the scope and usefulness of the institution. It is

.gratifying to observe that this increase extends not only tothe number of the patients, but also to the clinical instruc-tion given at the hospital. The students in attendanceduring the year numbered nearly 50 and as the patients’ rollis close upon 1700 it is manifest that there are abundant oppor-tunities for practical clinical study. It is proposed to enlargethe hospital by the acquisition of the adjoining property.The Hospital for Skin Diseases has also issued a satisfactoryreport. The new out-patients during the year numbered.1510 and the in-patients 109. The clinical classes wereattended by 72 students and the resources of the hospital arealso available for post-graduation study. The Duke ofMontrose has consented to become patron of the hospital insuccession to the late Duke of Argyll.

Glasgow Snmcll pox Epidemic.The favourable reports which continue to be issued show

that the outbreak is now practically at an end. A new caseis an exceptional event and the number in hospital has fallento 45. At a meeting of the town council on May 27ththe minutes of the Health Committee contained a recom-mendation, based on the authority of the medical officer ofhealth, that a new small-pox hospital should be erected andthat the committee should be authorised to visit and to

inspect sites suitable for this purpose. After some dis-cussion this was approved. Some time ago a committeewas appointed to consider the question of the re-organisa-tion of the Health Department which, unless rumour is

gravely at fault, has not for many months been altogether ahappy family. It appears, however, that in consequence of,the numerous engagements of the Lord Provost the com-mittee has not yet been called together. An early meeting’is now promised.

Tribute to a Paisley Practitioner.Colonel Sir Thomas Glen-Coats, Bart., commanding the

:2nd Volunteer Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders,has received the following letter from the front :-

Camp, near Vryheid, Transvaal, April 8, 1901.SIR,-I trust you will excuse my writing to you, but I would like

to bring to your notice the excellent work done by Dr. H. C. Donald, ofGauze-street, Paisley, while out in South Africa. He joined myregiment as its medical officer in the beginning of April, 1900, and onlyleft it in the end of November, when he had his leg broken by a horsetjdcking him. During that time he gained the complete confidence ofall his comrades, both officers and men, by his care and his kindness to.all our sick and wounded. He shared all our hardships, discomforts,- and dangers with us, going into every fight with the regiment which Iwe were engaged in. Not being a professional soldier, it is rather hardto mark one’s appreciation of all he did for us in any public way, so I

’

-write to you, as commanding officer of his Volunteer battalion, to draw Iyour attention to his good work and let you know how much we all iappreciated it, as I feel sure you will be pleased to know of the good 4,work of one of your officers. If you could do anything in the way of ,

promotion for Dr. Donald I am confident of his deserving it fully andall his former comrades in South Africa would be very glad. I

I am, Sir, yours faithfully, 1H. P. GouGH,

Major Commanding Gough’s Regiment Mounted Infantry. I

May 28th. (

11 The text of the petition is published on page 1543.

IRELAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

The Cullen Case.THE case of Mr. J. J. Oullen, the dispensary medical officer

for the Castleknock district, including the prolonged legalconflict between the Local Government Board of Ireland andthe guardians of the North Dublin Union, has now reachedwhat promises to be its penultimate phase. At a meeting ofthe guardians held on May 22nd the chairman disclosed theresult of an interview which took place recently between adeputation of the guardians and the Local GovernmentBoard in reference to Mr. Cullen. The terms agreed uponwere that Mr. Cullen should resign and that no salary shouldbe paid to him for the 12 months intervening between theissue of the sealed order and the present time; that alocum-tenent should be appointed for one month; andthat an election of a medical officer should take place at theend of that period, the Local Government Board agreeing tosanction the appointment of Mr. Cullen if he should againbe elected. A motion approving of these terms was adoptedby 25 votes to seven.

The Death-rates of Dublin and Belfast.Sir Charles Cameron has recently addressed an interesting

letter to the Dublin daily papers in which he calls attentionto the results of the census just published, which show thatthe population of Dublin was considerably under-estimated,while that of Belfast was over-estimated. The recent death-rates, being calculated on those assumed populations, showedDublin in a more unfavourable, and Belfast in a morefavourable, light than would have been the case were theactual numbers of the population known. Sir Charles Cameronobserves that as Belfast has no township and correspondspractically to the Dublin metropolitan area the populationof the latter still exceeds that of the former by 25,935.

Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.No less than 10 new candidates have offered themselves

for election on the Council of the Royal College of Surgeonsin Ireland at the ballot which will take place on June 3rd.

Cottage Hospital for Larne.Mr. Hugh H. Smiley of Larne has handed over to trustees

the sum of L5000 to build and to endow a cottage hospitalfor Larne. These trustees have the entire responsibility ofselecting a site, erecting the building, and arranging detailsas to management and terms of admission.

Tile Midwife Question at Caledon.Dr. C. J. Clibborn (Local Government Board medical

inspector) held a sworn inquiry at the Court-house, Caledon,co. Tyrone, last week in reference to the death of a womanat Cronghill, Caledon, on March 30th last, on whose bodyan inquest was held, when the jury found that "theyattached no blame to the midwife, who had done all shecould for the deceased according to her knowledge, andunanimously condemned Dr. Patterson for neglect of duty."A public meeting was held in Caledon to protest against theverdict and the Local Government Board of Ireland wasrequested to hold an inquiry. From the evidence it

appeared that the husband of the deceased came for themedical man, Mr. R. D. Patterson, on March 29th, andalthough he had no "line" the medical man walked amile to see the woman. On arrival he found only a littlegirl, 10 years of age, with the woman who was in an

office house, made temporarily habitable, and with no fire.She was muttering from puerperal septicaemia and was in adying condition, with a temperature of 102° F. and a pulse-rate of 120. The entire surroundings were filthy and thewoman’s clothes had not been changed nor had she beencleaned. The medical man said to the husband that hiswife’s condition was hopeless and that he would hold themall responsible. He gave medicines to ease the poor woman’spain. The midwife admitted that she had not changed any)f the clothes from the date of the confinement (March4th) until the death of the woman on the 30th. Whenasked wby a medical man was not sent for sooner she saidthat that was for the friends to do, not for her. Sheidmitted that there was sieging and drinking in the housem the night of the birth and on the following night. Theiusband said that he had left all to the woman who hadattended his wife. It would appear also that the priest