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Mr. 0. B. Lockwood was elected a member of the MuseumCommittee in the vacancy occasioned by Mr. Godlee, the Presi-dent having become an ex-officio member of the committee.

Mr. Edmund Oven was re-elected a member of the Courtof the University of Liverpool for a period of three years.A report from the committee on the annual report of the

Council was considered, and it was resolved to take no actionin reference to the Resolutions 3 and 4 carried at the annualmeeting of Fellows and Members in November.A protest was read against the National Insurance Bill

from the wives of over 800 duly registered medical men ofManchester, Liverpool, Oldham, Blackburn, and other townsand places in England and Wales.

In response to a request from Sir William S. Church,chairman of the Brown Sanatory Committee of the Universityof Lon.don, the Council resolved to allow Mr. Twort, thesuperintendent of the Brown Institution, to give his courseof five lectures at the College in January.A Seftter was read from Sir James F. Goodhart,

offering to present to the College a marble plaque of Mr.Edward Cock, President of the College in 1869. The offerwas accepted with thanks.A letter was read from Sir Henry Morris reporting the

proceedings of the General Medical Council at their latesession, and the best thanks of the Council were given toSir Elenry Morris for his services as a representative of theCollege on the General Medical Council.

Public Health.REPORTS OF SCHOOL MEDICAL OFFICERS.

Boraugh of Macclesfield.—Mr. J. H. Marsh’s report laysstress on those elementary questions which are so insistentin school, work. It is noted that " without exception theboys at each age period whose teeth are classed as very bad arethe lowest weights of all the boys examined." Cleanliness,too, is dealt with at length. "How can children," the

report reads, "coming from a home where the only water-tapis in a yard common to several houses, and where all the hotwater needed for bathing has to be got from a pan on thekitchen fire, be kept decently clean ?

" And the question isasked, "Are not school baths a logical necessity to com-pulsory school attendance? " Mr. Marsh answers thatthe installation of a system of shower baths would immenselyimprove the general well-being, discipline, and self-respectof the children." And while agreeing that in some cases

parental neglect is responsible for the children’s filthy condi-tion, he points out that as in most working-class homes inMacclesfield facilities do not exist for a thorough-going hotbath, " the systematic and regular bathing of a family of child-ren by a tired mother with few facilities for obtaining a

sufficient supply of hot water is a great tax on humanendurance." Treatment of defects found is another questionconsidered, and special arrangements for dental treatment ofall children at 7 years are recommended. Vision defects arealready dealt with by the prescription of spectacles by theophthalmic medical inspector. Out of 61 nose and throatcases followed up by the nurses at the end of the year 28 hadreceived some kind of medical attention, but in 33 nothing hadbeen done. Mr. Marsh says that inspection without treatmentmerely means a waste of money and the accumulation of

reports, and urges the establishment of a school clinic to treatnose and, throat,’dental, ear, and vision cases. It is interestingto notice in connexion with the feeding of school childrenthat tlais was done in Macclesfield at six schools on the adviceof the medical officer, and the children were also selectedfor feeding by him. A mid-morning lunch was given-bread-and-butter and milk, porridge and treacle and milk, or halfmilk cocoa and bread-and-dripping or bread-and-margarineand jam. "The children were quite unaccustomed to suchgood plain food, and appeared to have been brought upeither on tea and bread-and-butter or expensive andinnutritious delicacies."Durhan County Council.—Dr. T. Eustace Hill’s report,

while taking a broad sweep and being conceived from astandpoint which completely surveys the ground, yet findsroom for all needed precise detail and for three specialreports by medical inspectors which are of particular value.Dr. Ailoe M. Burn’s report on ,Clothing in Relation toPhysique and Physical Exercise " makes some striking state-ments and some highly practical suggestions which it is

much to be hoped will be taken up by the education authority.. Dr. Burn states "that 70 per cent. of the girls in

our elementary schools are physically victimised to theirclothes.......The infant of 5 years just entering school alreadyonly too often bears the stigma of the binder in the laterally

i compressed thorax and the pigeon chest. The small school

girl is now encompassed round about by quilted staybands ofl a semi-rigid type, thin string-like tape supports cut into

the little shoulders, the costal margin is gripped by thel returning tie tapes which pass from back to front, the whole, garment expressive of constraint and compression. Lung

expansion and chest movement are chronically restricted,the forward droop of the shoulders with its associatedhollow clavicles and prominent abdomen, is initiated and

. encouraged, while the whole body axis is thrown into! the worst possible position for practically all the physio-

logical processes of respiration, digestion, and elimina-tion....... The real needs of the developing growing body,

, crying out at every natural movement for space and freedomto expand, are utterly ignored or denied." This is prettystrong condemnation, but every school medical officer mustfeel that it ii justified and will be glad to have some of thedeficiencies exactly defined. Most school medical officers-alsowill have "removed or unfastened ten different items [of

) clothing] before reaching the poor little cramped chest be-neath," and Dr. Burn states that she and the school nurse"have constantly remarked the better chest development andthe good general physique of many of the so-called neglectedcases." This latter observation may apply to country areas,but does not appear applicable to towns. A vary practicablesuggestion in order to further ideas of rational clothing isthat the Darham Cooperative Stores (from which in thiscounty practically every home purchases) should be inducedto stock school children’s and infants’ garments of a ra1i mal

and hygienic type." This is merely, according to Dr. Burn,’ a matter of planning and cutting, and she proposes, if the: education committee considers the matter momentous enough,’

"to submit a set of clothing similar to what I have intro-duced elsewhere and undertake any preliminary inquiries

’ as to material, cost, output, &c." In illustration of thedeficiencies of ordinary clothing, it is mentioned that at

’

one school, where an enthusiastic teacher was conducting’ physical drill on the admirable new Board of Educa-’

tion syllabus lines, " the movements designed to developwaist and back muscles had all to be cut out, not to

,

mention many of the leg exercises." Dr. Burn concludes hervaluable paper by a plea for the introduction of morris-

’

dancing and for instruction for sixth and seventh standard girlsin personal hygiene and home management. Dr. J. G. W.Boleyn, in a report on the Effect of Dental Caries and OralSepsis upon Children’s Health, gives a useful list of foodswhich cause and foods which prevent caries, and notes thegreater relative prevalence of this condition amongst "better-class children. Two further useful reports are added-onAmelioration, by Dr. Victoria E. M. Bennett, and on PersonalCleanliness, by Dr. Elizabeth N. Niel.Borough of Newport.-The third annual report of the

infantile health centre committee is issued from the health

department of the Newport corporation and contains some in-teresting reading for educationists and school medical officers.An early paragraph states that "the results of the examina-tions of school children prove that one must search for thecauses [of physical defects] at a still earlier age in the majorityof cases." The committee which reports has been endeavour-ing to cope with the causes at an earlier period by providing" schools for mothers," where not only instruction in hygieneis provided but extra nutriment for nursing mothers in theform of milk. Help with rational clothing is given anda maternity club established. Bat the committee concludesthat a striking circumstance, however, continually presentsitself to all who labour for the welfare of the infants of thenation. It is the intimate relation between child mortalityand poverty." It is much to be hoped that the sphere olinfluence of this committee may extend and that manyimitators may be found in other places.

VITAL STATISTICS.

VITAL STATISTICS OF LONDON DURING NOVEMBER, 1911.IN the accompanying table will be found summarised

complete statistics relating to sickness and mortality in theCity of London and in each of the metropolitan boroughs.With regard to the notified cases of infectious diseases, it

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appears that the number of persons reported to be suffer- l

ing from one or other of the ten diseases specified in the table was equal to an annual rate of 7’8 per 1000 of the population, estimated at 4,522,628 persons in the middle ofthe year. In the three preceding months the rates were c

4’4, 6-9, and 8’5 per 1000 respectively. The lowest rates last month were recorded in Paddington, Kensington, i

Hammersmith, Chelsea, the City of Westminster, Holborn, and the City of London ; and the highest rates in Fulham, 3Hackney, Finsbury, Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham, and i

Woolwich. The prevalence of scarlet fever showed a marked ’ decline from that recorded in the previous month ; among the i

several metropolitan boroughs the greatest proportional pre-valence of this disease occurred in St. Marylebone, Hackney,Lambeth, Wandsworth, Camberwell, Deptford, and Wool-wich. The Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals contained 2103scarlet fever patients at the end of last month, against1324, 1656, and 2152 at the end of the three preceding imonths; the weekly admissions averaged 254, against 261and 317 in the two preceding months. Diphtheria wasslightly more prevalent than it had been in the precedingmonth; this disease was proportionally most prevalent in

Fulham, St. Pancras, Finsbury, Greenwich, Lewisham, andWoolwich. The number of diphtheria patients under treat-ment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals, which hadbeen 720, 892, and 1143 at the end of the three

preceding months, had risen to 1327 at the end oflast month ; the weekly admissions averaged 180,against 138 and 168 in the two preceding months.The prevalence of enteric fever showed a considerabledecrease from that recorded in either of the two precedingmonths ; the greatest proportional prevalence of this diseaseoccurred in Fulham, Islington, Holborn, Finsbury, andLambeth. There were 85 enteric fever patients under treat-ment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals at the end oflast month, against 56, 155, and 160 at the end of the threepreceding months; the weekly admissions averaged 9,against 39 and 23 in the two preceding months. Erysipelaswas proportionally most prevalent in Stoke Newington,Hackney, Finsbury, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, Stepney,Southwark, and Bermondsey. The 40 cases of puerperalfever notified during the month included 5 in Southwark,5 in Lambeth, 4 in Hackney, 4 in Stepney, 4 in Wandsworth,3 in Fulham, and 3 in St. Pancras. Of the 20 cases of

poliomyelitis notified, 4 belonged to Lambeth, 3 to Shore-ditch, and 2 each to Hackney, Stepney, Poplar, and

Battersea ; and 2 of the 6 cases notified as cerebro-spinalmeningitis belonged to Finsbury.The mortality statistics in the table relate to the deaths of

persons actually belonging to the several boroughs, the deathsoccurring in institutions having been distributed among theseveral boroughs in which the deceased persons had pre-viously resided; the death-rates from all causes are furthercorrected for variations in the sex- andage-constitution of thepopulations of the several boroughs. During the five weeksending Dec. 2nd the deaths of 5827 London residents wereregistered, equal to an annual rate of 14’1 per 1000 ; in thethree preceding months the rates had been 18’9, 16 8, and15-1 per 1000 respectively. The death-rates last month ranged from 10 - 7 in Lewisham, 11’ 0 in Kensington, 11’1in Wandsworth, 11-2 in Hampstead, 11. 3 in Woolwich,and 11.8 in the City of London, to 16’7 in Bermondsey,16’8 in Bethnal Green, 17’0 in Poplar, 17.1 in Holborn,17’7 in Finsbury, and 19.0 0 in Southwark. The 5827 deathsfrom all causes included 52 from measles, 19 from scarletfever, 78 from diphtheria, 32 from whooping-cough,20 from enteric fever, and 149 among children undertwo years of age from diarrhoea and enteritis. No deathfrom any of these diseases was recorded last month inthe City of London ; among the metropolitan boroughs theycaused the lowest death-rates in Kensington, Islington, StokeNewington, Hackney, and Woolwich, and the highest ratesin Hammersmith, Chelsea, Finsbury, Bethnal Green, South-wark, Wandsworth, Greenwich, Poplar, and Deptford. The52 deaths from measles were less than one-third of thecorrected average number in the corresponding periodof the five preceding years; of these 52 deaths, 20belonged to Deptford, 9 to Southwark, 7 to Camberwell,4 to Greenwich, 3 to Battersea, and 2 to Bermondsey.The 19 fatal cases of scarlet fever were 28 fewerthan the corrected average, and included 3 in Finsbury,2 in St. Marylebone, 2 in Islington, 2 in Shoreditch, 2 in

>oplar, and 2 in Wandsworth. The 78 deaths from diphtheriawere slightly below the corrected average ; this disease was>roportionally most fatal in Fulham, Chelsea, the City ofWestminster, Hampstead, and Poplar. The 32 fatal cases)f whooping-cough were 26 below the corrected averagelumber, and included 5 in Poplar, 4 in Wandsworth, and 3n Lambeth. The 20 deaths referred to enteric fever showeddecline of 8 from the corrected average number ; of these

20 deaths 3 belonged to Hammersmith, 3 to Lambeth, and 2iach to Fulham, St. Pancras, Poplar, and Wandsworth.rhe 149 deaths from diarrhoea and enteritis among childreninder two years of age were less than half the numbern the previous month ; the greatest proportional mortality’rom this cause was recorded in Hammersmith, Chelsea,Finsbury, Bethnal Green, Bermondsey, and Wands worth.In conclusion, it may be stated that the aggregate mortality.n London last month from the principal infectious diseasesexcluding diarrhoea) was 47 per cent. below the average.

THE SERVICES.

ROYAL NAVY MEDICAL SERVICE.IN accordance with the provisions of Order in Council of

April lst, 1881, Fleet-Surgeon Hubert William AustinBurke has been placed on the Retired List at his own request.The following appointments have been notified :-Fleet.

Surgeon: G. T. Bishop to Malta Hospital. Staff-Surgeons:D. V. Lowndes to the Pembroke, for R.N. Barracks; andR. R. Horley, L. M. Morris, and G. H. M. Mills to the

Viotory, additional, for disposal. Surgeons : A. D. C.Cummins to the Victory, for R.N. Barracks ; W. R. Harrisonto the Victory, additional, for disposal ; G. Moir to theVivid, additional, for disposal; and G. T. Verry to HaslarHospital.

ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE.

Surgeon-General Sir Francis W. Trevor, K.C.S.I., C.B.,K. H. S., is retained supernumerary to the establishment, underthe provisions of Articles 92 and 472 Royal Warrant for Payand Promotion, 1909 (dated Dec. llth, 1911). ColonelThomas M. Corker to be Surgeon-General, vice Sir F. W.Trevor, K.C.S.I., C.B., K.H.S. (dated Dec. llth, 1911).Colonel (temporary Surgeon-General) William Babtie, V.C.,C.M.G., to be Surgeon-General to complete establishment(dated Dec. llth, 1911). Lieutenant-Colonel James M.Irwin, from the Royal Army Medical Corps, to be Colonel,vice T. M. Corker (dated Dec. lltb, 1911).

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.Lieutenant Arthur J. 0. Wigmore resigns his commission

(dated Dec. 16th, 1911).Lieutenant-Colonel G. G. Adams, commanding the MilitaryHospital at Colaba, Bombay, has been selected for the

higher rate of pay under Article 317 of the Royal Warrant.Lieutenant-Colonel T. McCulloch has arrived home, tour-

expired, from India, and has been appointed in charge of theMedical Divisions of the Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley.

Lieutenant-Colonel M. J. Sexton, lately in medical charge ofthe Military Hospital at Arbor Hill, Dublin, has embarkedfor a tour of service in South Africa. Lieutenant-Colonel J.Donaldson, in charge of the infectious diseases hospital atAldershot, has been detailed by the War Office for a tour ofservice in India, and on arrival will be posted for dutyin the Second (Rawal Pindi) Division. Lieutenant-ColonelT. Daly has been selected to hold Medical Charge ofthe Station Hospital at Peshawar. Lieutenant-ColonelM. P. C. Holt, D.S.O., honorary surgeon to the H.E.the Viceroy of India, has been appointed to commandthe Station Hospital at Kasauli. H.E. the Commander-in-Chief in India has been pleased to grant an exten-sion of the command of the Station Hospital at Lucknowto Lieutenant-Colonel H. N. Thompson, D.S.O., honorarysurgeon to H.E. the Viceroy. Major G. M. Goldsmith hasbeen selected for appointment to command the Station Hos-pital at Lebong. Major T. H. J. C. Goodwin, D.S.O., oncompletion of his Indian tour of service, has been appointedto the Southern Command. Major F. Harvey, from Devon-port, has taken up duty at Bodmin. Major L. N. Lloyd,D.S.O., on completion of his tenure of appointment as

adjutant of the Royal Army Medical Corps School ofInstruction at London, has been posted for duty in the