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rise. The improvement from these causes, it is believed,would be almost certainly not less than 17.3 per cent.,so that the survival-rate would reach 50 per cent.of all cases. As 85.6 per cent. of those who die at allages from this trouble are capable of being operatedon if they could be persuaded to attend early fortreatment, it follows on this calculation that not lessthan 42 per cent. reduction could be secured amongthose who at present die from cancer of the uterus.Dr. Greenwood and Dr. Lane-Claypon pointed outthat the data available for this country show that themean period elapsing after the patient has becomeaware of her symptoms is from 8 to 12 months forcancer of the breast (according as the cases of longduration are or are not included) and from 6 to 9months for cancer of the uterus. Hence, although asmall proportion of women may be unaware of theirtrouble until the disease has passed its early stages,it is at least certain that in both forms of cancer thereis great unnecessary delay in making application fortreatment. The view that a reduction of approximately50 per cent. could be effected has been confirmedstatistically by calculations based on the survivalsamong known cases. In the course of the subsequentdiscussion, Sir James Herry and Mr. W. SampsonHandley strongly emphasised the supreme importanceof early treatment. _____

THE LAW AND TRADITION OF MEDICALPRACTICE.

MR. W. SANDERSON and Mr. E. B. A. Rayner,both barristers-at-law, have written an interestingintroduction to a complete work1 on the law andtradition of medical practice, the projected volumebeing a treatise on the rights and duties of physicians,surgeons and dentists, with a complete descriptionof the status of apothecaries and midwives." Thework contemplated will thus cover an enormous

field, while the introduction deals with little morethan general principles, omitting, further, anymention of public health or forensic medicine,because, as is pointed out, both subjects, whileextending over a wide field of law, are adequatelydealt with in existing text-books. The authors’description of the contact of medicine and law—that is the relation of medicine to the body politicwill make useful reading to every medical practitioner.We are all supposed to know the law-that is to say,to be aware of the rules that govern this relationship ;but while many other citizens can ascertain withfair facility where they stand in regard to particularenactments, in no class, except among lawyersthemselves, is professional routine so perpetuallyin touch with various general and special regulations.Our pages, under the head of " Medicine and the Law,"testify to the wide range of questions which fallunder this title, and not a little to the presence of anomalies in administration. The statements in thissmall book upon tradition and custom, as those uponsalaries and fees, contain much information thatwill enable the reader to understand sociologicalprinciples as applied to the conduct of medicalpractice ; it is pleasing to find the arguments developedon which the views are founded that the law is stilldeveloping in the wake of medical tradition, and that" the striking harmony between medicine and thebody politic has been produced by the high standardsof honour and service continuously exhibited by themedical profession, and has been as continuouslyfostered by the law under the guidance of thejudges." The warning against the thoughtlessgranting by medical men of press interviews isscathing, and we are not surprised to learn that theterms employed should have led to a protest fromthe Institute of Journalists, nor that the authorsshould have signified willingness to modify theoffending passage. That mischievous or troublesome

1 An Introduction to the Law and Tradition of MedicalPractice. By William Sanderson, M.A., LL.B., of the InnerTemple, and E. B. A. Rayner. B.A., LL.B., of Gray’s Inn,Barrister-at-law. London: H. K. Lewis and Co., Ltd. 1926.Pp. 77. 7s. 6d.

results have followed upon press interviews grantedby doctors cannot be denied, and the annals ofthe General Medical Council can be quoted in supportof this statement ; but the inclusive indictment of allpress reporters cannot be justified by facts.

THERE has been definite improvement in Sir ErnestHodder-lll"illiams’s condition generally during the pastweek.

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THE death occurred on Tan. 25th, at the age of 69.of Dr. Thomas Robert Bradshaw, consulting phy.sician to the Liverpool Royal Infirmary.

Sir Berkeley Moynihan, President of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons of England, will deliver theIlunterian Oration in the Theatre of the Collegeon Monday, Feb. 14th, at 4 P.M. Fellows and Memberswho wish to be present are asked to apply to theSecretary for cards of admission.

WE publish in another column a letter from a smallcommittee of friends and admirers of the late Sir.Clifford Allbutt, who have decided to erect at Papworthtwo cottages with which his name will be associated.which are to be used for the accommodation of mendisabled by tuberculosis. The inmates will beselected from among those who are unable to supportthemselves and families, and the association of SirClifford Allbutt’s name with such beneficent workis very fitting, for he was deeply interested in thework of the colon v from its outset. -%Ve are sure thatmany of our readers will welcome the opportunityof helping the good work, while testifying theirappreciation of the career of a great leader ; this theycan do by sending donations to the fund directed toMrs. Marcus Dimsdale, Papworth Hall, Cambridge.

Mr. J. Hugh .Tones, who died on Monday of innuenzatpneumonia, was a benefactor of metropolitan hospitals.for it was owing to his imagination and enterprise thatthe scheme for providing wireless to every hospitalbed was successfully realised. The money, collectedthrough the columns of the Daily News. exceeded;E34,000, which was sufficient to equip 15,781 beds in122 hospitals, leaving something over for Borstatschools and lighthouses. At a crucial time in his earlylife-as he told the subscribers to the fund whenaccepting a presentation-he received kindnessfrom a Manchester hospital, and formed a resolutionthat if ever he grew up he would endeavour to dosomething for hospitals to mark his gratitude. Mr.Jones was clear-sighted enough to look upon broad-casting as an ally and not as a menace to newspaperproduction.

ROYAL SANITARY INSTITUTE.—A Sessional Meetingis to be held at 90. Buckingham Palace-road. London.S.W. 1, on Tuesday, Feb. 15th, at 5.30 P.M., when a discussionon Immunisation Against Diphtheria will be opened byDr. Williaiii Robertson, medical officer of health for Edin-burgh. The chair will be taken by Sir Arthur Newsholme.

CONTAMINATION OF MILK.—At a conference of 149local authorities, held at Leeds on Jan. 27th, to consider therequirements of the Milk and Dairies OI’llp!, of 1926. Dr.J. R. Kaye, medical officer of health for the West Riding. said : " In 12 per cent. of the examplt-s of milk we recentlytook we found liquid manure.... If a farmer does not supplypure milk," he went on. " he is not an honest man and oughtnot to he a churchwarden. Tt I were a coroner I shouldwant an inquest on every child under 12 BB ho died fromintestinal trouble. I should look to milk first for the causeof death, and if I found it there I think I could win theday against the producer before a court and a sensiblejury.... We have been too soft-hearted in the past.A great deal is being done by some producers, but whyshould not Grade A be the standard milk ? There should bea cletined standard, and we ought to get real help from themagistrates instead of tinkering tines that are no use

whatever."