1001BERLIN.-EGYPT.-NEW YORK.

Diseases held its annual meeting on March llth in Berlin,Professor Neisser of Breslau being in the chair. Dr. Blaschko,the general secretary, reported that the association had now5000 members and included 22 local committees ; 1,500,000copies of the pamphlets or leaflets published by the associa- I,tion had been distributed to the public. He also saidthat the newspapers now permitted subjects of this kindto be discussed in their columns and that there wereonly a few places where the work of the associa-tion was opposed by false prudery. After the inauguralbusiness had been transacted a question relative toclubs under the Workmen’s Insurance Laws was discussed.The principal sick clubs had on several occasions sent

delegates to hygienic congresses, but one of the law courtshad recently decided that it was illegal for these clubs touse their funds in paying the expenses of the delegates. As it is highly desirable from a hygienic point of view that I,representatives of the working classes should continue to take part in this and other hygienic congresses a motionwas adopted requesting the Government to amend the legisla-tion on that subject. Tbe association then discussed the statistics of venereal diseases and adopted a motion to the ’,effect that a collective investigation concerning the spreadof these diseases should be carried out under the control ofthe Government medical department. Medical practitionersand the hospitals would be invited to take part in the

investigation which would, of course, be strictly confidential.Dr. Blaschko then drew the attention of the association to a

point raised in the Prussian Diet where Dr. Munsterberg, amedical member of the House, had adverted to the laws

concerning prostitution. He had suggested the appoint-ment of an extra parliamentary commission for the purpose ofdiscussing this question and recommending alterations of the ’,,laws at present in force which were quite inefficacious. TheMinister of the Interior had agreed with Dr. Munsterberg andDr. Blaschko wished that the association should also beinvited to send delegates to the Government commission.He said that two parties of essentially divergent views-namely, those who were opposed to any control of prostitu-tion and those who were in favour of such a control-were both represented in the association and that they hadbeen able to cooperate notwithstanding their differences ofopinion. A motion, proposed by Dr. Blaschko, was adoptedto the effect that the association desired an amendment ofthe laws and regulations concerning prostitution and that itwas advisable that delegates of the association, men andwomen, should take part in the work of the extra-

parliamentary commission appointed by the Government.April 2nd.

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EGYPT.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Normal Schcol for Girls in Cairo.TEN years ago the census taken in Egypt showed that of

the female population more than 99 per cent. were unable toread or to write. Since then encouragement has been given toparents to send their girls as well as boys to the elementaryschools called kuttab " and this they seem quite willing to do.The normal school, now in its third year, is for 40 boarders,all Mohammedans of the poorer class, who during twoyears are trained to become teachers of the kuttabsfor girls. They vary in age from 12 to 18 yearsand are taught by a competent Corsican lady and severalnative assistants. On being drafted from the kuttabs theyalready know the rudiments of reading and writing Arabicand can recite by heart passages from the Koran. They aremade proficient in these subjects and are also taughtarithmetic, geography, history, gardening, cooking, laundrywork, and ironing. They learn the theory and practice ofteaching by means of a special kuttab of 90 girls, aged fromsix to ten years, who go every day to the normal schoolto be taught. They are given a free lunch, consisting ofbread, lentils, and vegetables, with meat twice a week, allcooked by the pupil teachers. A playground is attachedto the school, where skipping seems to be the favouritepastime. At the end of the two years’ training the girlsundergo an examination and are appointed as teachers orassistant teachers in the kuttabs under the supervision ofthe education department. This is the first time that anyserious effort has been made in Egypt to give instruction tothe girls of the poorer folk. I was much struck with the

general air of health and cleanliness among the teachersand the taught, who are visited daily by Miss C. B. S.Amos, M.B. Lond., who has lately been appointed medicalinspector of all the girls’ schools belonging to the

Egyptian Government. The building in which this schoolis situated in Bulak awakens memories in an old resident.30 years ago it was the only lunatic asylum in Egypt,notorious for ill-treatment, starvation, heavy chains,and flogging. Then when the hapless lunatics had beenmoved to their present quarters in the desert it becamea prison for females and a temporary nucleus of malaria.Then it was renovated, the breeding places of mosquitoeswere destroyed, and it was opened as the first reforma-tory for boys. When the law courts discovered its existenceand filled it with young thieves it had again to be abandonedand is now the happy home of many bright-eyed maidens.13 of the existing teachers in the elementary schools havebeen trained in this normal school.

Central Sanitary Board for the Soudan.Sir R Wingate, the Governor-General of the Soudan,

approved last October the establishment of a new board toadvise the Soudan Government on general medical and

sanitary questions, including the treatment of epidemics.The president is Colonel G. D. Hunter, D.S 0., R A M.C.,and the members are eight in number, including the directorof the Soudan Medical Department (Dr. J. B. Christopher-son), the medical officer of health of Khartoum (Dr. A.Balfour), three medical officers of the Egyptian army, and asanitary engineer. This is a great advance, for the boardwill have to examine all schemes for medical and sanitarydevelopment, besides all legal ordinances and budgetaryproposals connected with the public health.

Sleeping Sickness.It is be1ievEd that this disease is not likely to occur in

Egypt but the Egyptian Government has voted a sum of£1000 towards the cost of the programme proposed by theRoyal Society for work in the direction of Uganda and willprobably continue this grant for two more years.

Cairo, March 26th.

NEW YORK.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Prevention of Tuberculosis among Government Employees.AN important order has been issued by direction of Pre-

sident Roosevelt, the object of which is to protect Govern-ment employees from tuberculosis. The order is based onthe report and recommendations of a committee appointedto inquire as to the dangers of tuberculosis in Governmentoffices. The President’s order directs the surgeon-generals ofthe Army, Navy, and Public Health Service to cause animmediate inspection to be made of the public buildings andworkshops under their respective departments, and to reportall insanitary conditions immediately remedial, and all in-sanitary conditions requiricg structural changes. The publicbuildings not in these departments are to be inspected inlike manner under the direction of the surgeon general ofthe Public Health Service. The order further provides thatwhenever there is a doubt with regard to any person inthe Government service as to whether the said person isaffected with pulmonary tuberculosis an order shall beissued for the said person to present himself (or herself) atone of the Government laboratories for examination andto present to the department, from the director or otherauthorised officer of the said laboratory, a certificate show-ing the result of the said examination. Having obtainedthe names of all persons affected with tuberculosis in

any department the head of the said department shallpresent to each person so affected the rules prescribedby the committee for their observance. The non-observanceof such rules by the employee shall, in the discretionof the head of the department, be considered as a justcause for separation from the service. It is also madethe duty of the head of each executive department at

Washington to cause to be transmitted to all the federal

buildings under his control the rules prepared by the com-mittee to prevent the spread of tuberculosis in the build-

ings and to cause their display by the custodian in suchmanner and in such number as is necessary to carry out theintent of the rules.