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naugurated may be extended by the inclusion of membersfrom all parts of the kingdom. The report speaks in no

uncertain tones upon the tactics and objects of the Anti-vaccination League, and declares that not to oppose " suchan organised and aggressive conspiracy against the best

interests of humanity would be an abnegation of duty."Tet it is plain that if such opposition is to be commensuratewith the operations of the Antivaccination League it will

be necessary to widely enlarge the scope and work

of the society. If therefore the ’Jenner Memorial

movement can only be devoted to the prosecutionof research in the field in which Jenner was the pioneer,we would ask whether it might not be wise to meet theagitation against vaccination by an active propagandaundertaken by a national association which would have thesupport of all who love truth and value the benefits con-ferred upon mankind by the introduction of vaccination.

THE CONDITION OF THE PORTSMOUTH SLUMS.

CONSIDERABLE stir has been made in Portsmouth by areport issued by the " Social Reform Society" on the slums of that extensive town. It declares that the society ’recently instituted an inspection, and instances as a sample of’its findings a yard of twelve houses, all badly out of repairand in a filthy condition, with two waterclosets only,and these without water. Another court contained eleven

houses, the rooms in which were said to be mere boxes,:3ft. square by 7 ft. high, and all in a dirty and insanitarycondition. The rooms in thirteen houses in a third courtwere 9 ft. by 7 ft. 6 in. They were in a bad state of repair,.and in each case the watercloset was in the cellar under the

’only living-room, and there was no ceiling to either water-.closet or cellar. Assuming that these facts are correct, thereflection upon the sanitary authority is indeed a serious

- one. Investigations by representatives of a local paper haveresulted in the discovery of similar instances of filth and.overcrowding, and the matter is certainly one that should- be thoroughly examined into.

THE HEALTH OF THE ARMY IN INDIA.

AFTER the meetings that have taken place at the Royal’United Service Institution, and the reading of a paper byMajor C. B. Mayne, R.E., with a long discussion thereon,dt was only to be expected that a good deal of corre-

spondence would follow in the public journals. There is at

present, however, a lull in the discussion. The real fight willnsue when the proposals of the Government of India reach’this country. Meanwhile, the general impression in India,- derived from the telegraphic summary of Lord George.Hamilton’s despatch to that country, seems to be that theSecretary of State’s proposals will prove quite inadequate ;while, on the other hand, the opponents of all legislation inthis country regard the despatch as going too far or are

.suspicious that it is intended to prove the proverbial thin’end of the wedge " for the subsequent introduction of allkinds of objectionable measures. The British Committee forthe Abolition of State Regulation of Vice in India are activelyengaged in sharpening the old weapons in their armoury andin printing and distributing their productions on the subject.INo useful purpose will be served at the present momentby occupying our readers’ attention with the matter. The

profession, as represented by the Royal College of Phy-;sicians of London and the Royal College of Surgeonsof England, have already spoken with some authority,and "what we have written we have written." This

much, however, it is necessary to say. Any proposalsthat are made by the Government have reference to theBritish army in India only. Anyone interested or takingpart in the controversy should refuse to step outside those

limits. There is no pretext for now saying that it isintended to re-introduce the Contagious Diseases Acts

into this country. It is the present state of health of theEuropean force in India, and how best to protect or safe-guard it against existing or prospective evils, that has nowto be considered. The Secretary of State has been mostmoderate and guarded, it seems to us, in his despatch.We have sufficient confidence in the fairness and wisdom ofthe majority of people to believe that they will recognisethe present lamentable state of things and the dangerousconsequences that will ensue from their continuance or pro-bable extension. Let the moderate men of all parties thenhonestly consider what remedial measures are at once

prudent and practicable under the circumstances.

THE MÜTTER LECTURESHIP OF THE COLLEGEOF PHYSICIANS OF PHILADELPHIA.

THE next course of lectures, ten in number, instituted bythe late Professor Mutter, the subject being "Some Point orPoints in Surgical Pathology," are to be delivered duringthe winter of 1899-1900 before the College of Physiciansof Philadelphia. The remuneration is 600 dollars. The

lectureship is open to the profession at large, and applica-tions for the post stating in full the details of the proposedlectures must be sent in before Oct. 1st, 1897, to theCommittee of the Mutter Museum. The chairman isDr. J. H. Brinton, corner of l3th and Locust streets,Philadelphia, Pa. -

AT a meeting of the Incorporated Society of MedicalOfficers of Health held at No. 197, High Holborn, W.C.,on Friday, the 9th inst., Mr. Edward Seaton, M.D.,F.R.C.P. Lond., F.C.S., medical officer of health of the

administrative county of Surrey, was unanimously electedPresident of the Society for the session 1897-98. At thesame meeting a resolution was adopted to present a loyaland dutiful address of congratulation to Her Most GraciousMajesty the Queen on the occasion of completing the sixtiethyear of her reign.

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IT is stated that Lord Llandaff (Mr. Henry Matthews) hasaccepted the chairmanship of the Royal Commission on

Metropolitan Water-Supply. The inquiry will refer to

financial considerations, prospective requirements, the con-stitution of new powers of control, the possibility of con-necting two or more different systems as occasion mayrequire, and the division into water districts.

THE Home Secretary has selected Dr. H. Smalley, of

H.M. Convict Prison, Parkhurst, to fill the post of MedicalInspector of Local and Convict Prisons, vacant by the

resignation, through ill-health, of Dr. R. M. Gover. The

appointment is one that is likely to be received with generalsatisfaction throughout the prison service.

A MEETING to promote the objects of the Hospital ReformAssociation will be held in the Grand Hotel, Birmingham, onWednesday, April 21st, at 4 P.M.

ROYAL LONDON OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL.-The’ annual meeting of the Royal London Ophthalmic Hospital,; Moorfields, was held in the institution on March 30th, Sir,

John Lubbock presiding. The report for the past yearshowed that there had been 2006 in-patients admitted; there

: were also 26,074 out-patients, who made 130,370 attendances.’

The new buildings in the City-road were being rapidlyproceeded with, and the Prince of Wales had promised to laythe foundation-stone shortly after Easter. The income fore the year was £4809, and the total expenditure was £7770.