- Email: [email protected]
BRITISH MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND.
1183 not in use the bath tips up into the cabinet and the floorspace then occupied is 2 feet 1 inch deep and 2 feet 9 inches wide. In the same way a folding bath without cabinet is made for villas, bungalows, artisans’ dwellings, servants’ quarters, This can be fitted in a 2-feet cupboard or in a recess. An &c. exhibit which attracted a good deal of attention was that of Messrs. Thomas Potterton of the Cavendish Works, Balham, London, S. W. It consisted of a model of a domestic hot-" water service in a large mansion worked from the" Rex" kitchener, no second fire being needed for warming the various these are provided with radiators The Patent Adjustable Bath Company of 31, Broad-street, Birmingham, exhibited a specimen of their tip-up bath as in use at the employees’ cottages at The Silicate Messrs. Cadbury’s works at Bourneville. Paint Co. of Charlton, London, S.E., presented to view a model cottage decorated inside and out with" Duresco," a washable wall paint made durable, as its name implies, by a silicating process. The Newellite Glass Tile Company, Limited, of Shenton-street, Old Kent-road, London, S.E., exhibited specimens of glass tiles which, while presenting a clean impervious surface, are said to be free from the tendency to craze or crack and to be specially adapted for hospital construction. The sanitary exhibits of the Sanitary Appliances Syndicate, Limited, of 68, Victoria-street, Westminster, London, S.W., were very numerous and comprised "The Only silent closet fitted with polished brass valve and gun-metal working parts. The utmost flush necessary is two gallons and there is no ball valve. Several modifications of this closewere shown, all designed to meet sanitary requirements and to eliminate offence; as well as gullies, tidal valve and traps for drain connexions, inlet air valves, urinals with hand-flushing arrangement, flushing cisterns, and-domestic water tanks possessing some claim or other from a hygienic standpoint. Examples of Hall’s washable sanitary distemper were given at the stall of Messrs. Sissons, Bros., and Company, of 199B. " Borough High-street, London, S. E., while close by were ’’ well" fires shown in working order by the Well fire Company of 33, Dover-street, Piccadilly, London, W. Messrs. John Knight and Sons of 24, Gertrude-street, King’s-road, Chelsea, London, S.W., exhibited their cast iron inspection and disconnecting chambers for drainage work, besides their sealed internal gullies and manhole covers. Messrs. G. A. Williams and Son of 21, Qaeen’s-road, Bayswater, London, W., brought to the notice of the visitors their patent open-air sleeping chamber and their "invisible"outside blind. The Gypsum Mines Company, Limited, of Mountfield, Robertsbridge, Sussex, showed specimens of their Sirapite"Piaster which was used in the London hospitals for restoring interior walls and as a backing for glazed tiling. The patent bucket fire extinguisher of Messrs. Messer and Thorpe of 54, 56, and 58, Gedling-street, Dockhead, London, S.E., is well worth mentioning and consists of a number of fire buckets telescoped together which can be so submerged in water that on being taken out they each and all come out full. A somewhat revolutionary and attractive proposal in regard to methods of domestic heating is that of Messrs. James Prior and Co. of the Empire Works, Holliday-street, Birmingham, who gave a working demonstration of the method of heating bedrooms and hall with the waste heat from the sittingroom fire by means of the " Venetian " grate and heat distributor. The London Warming and Ventilating Company, Limited, of 20, Newman-street, London, W., exhibited their ingenious"Florence " warm-air and ventilating grate. The smoke is drawn through the fire to a point where it becomes incandescent and the automatic shaking bins clean the fire of ashes and dust, thus providing free access of air at a high temperature through the fuel. A very handsome exhibit, comprising a series of model bathrooms with the latest patterns of sanitary appliances, was shown by Messrs. Shanks and Co., Limited, of 81, New Bond-street, London, W. The porcelain enamel used in the baths calls particularly for a word of praise. The exhibit included urinals, lavatory sinks, and basins. Messrs. Davis, Bennett, and Company of the Westminster Sanitary Works, Horseferry-road, London, S.W., exhibited a number of luxurious sanitary appurtenances, including bath-rooms, water-closets, lavatories, and so forth. The Ajax basins and sinks of the Ajax Sanitary Company, Limited, of 49, Stamford-hill, London, N., are well worthy of mention, inasmuch as these sanitary apparatus illustrate an important improvement consisting of an outlet and overflow passage in a recess at the back, front, or side, and a shutter or sliding valve. As might have been anticipated, Messrs. rooms on
the
in the same
house, since
service.
"
Doulton and
Company’s exhibit (Lambeth Potteries, London, comprehensive and included a really handsome display of sanitary appliances, such as bath-room fittings, lavatory accessories, water-closets, sinks, drains, and glazed pipes, besides an installation of fireplaces and mantelpieces in glazed ware. In the "Surveyor"section Messrs. Horsfall of Lordstreet works, Whitehall-road, Leeds, exhibited a model of S.E.)
was
most
their "tub-feed" refuse destructor, as well as of their "cupola"type destructor and a forced draught smokeconsuming furnace. The exhibit included some specimens Close by were various specimens of of clinker flags, &c. "tarmac," shown by Tarmac, Limited, of Ettingshall, Wolverhampton. "Tarmac"is manufactured from ironRoads made stone slag, impregnated with tar oils. with it are said to be free from dust, mud, or grease. The Ames-Crosta Sanitary Engineering Company, Limited, of City Chambers, South Parade, Nottingham, exhibited their sewage disposal specialities, including the " Simplex " automatic sewage sprinkler and the "Coleman"automatic " sewage valve worked by a mercury balance. The "Ames" tiles also should be mentioned as a simple device for ensuring drainage and aeration of bacteria beds and for the flooring of water filter beds. The Candy Filter Company of 5, Westminster Palace-gardens, Artillery-row, Westminster, London, S.W., exhibited plans and drawings of installations of the Candy patent automatic compressed air and oxidising waterworks filters as well as samples of "oxidium,"a mineral oxidising substance for purifying water. At the same stall were working models of the Candy-Whittaker sewage distributor. Messrs. Ham, Baker and Co., of 13, Grosvenor-road, Westminster, London, S.W., similarly exhibited their ingenious travelling sewage distributor for rectangular filterbeds and a number of other sewage engineering appliances. "Tarspra"of Tarspra, Limited, of 20, Victoria-street, Westminster, London, S.W., is said to have solved the "dust" and "skid"problem of the roads. Hundreds of miles of roads, it isstated, can be treated with "tarspra"" in a few weeks. Mr. William E. Farrer of Star Works, Cambridge-street, Birmingham, exhibited his improved automatic sewage distributor, which appears to be particularly well adapted for small installations-as, for example, country houses. Close by was a working model of the "Sterling " refuse destructor (Messrs. Hughes and Co., 7, Arundel-street, Strand, London, W.C.), which is said to do its work very efrectually and without causing the slightest nuisance. An example of obtaining power from waste could be seen in the destructor of Messrs. Heenan and Froude of 4, Chapelwalks, Manchester. In the same section Messrs. George Jennings, Limited, of Lambeth Palace-road, London, S.E., exhibited a number of "up-to-date"appliances connected with the disposal of sewage, while Messrs. Defries and Son, Limited, of 146 and 147, Houndsditch, London, E.C., exhibited illustrations of their Equifex steam disinfecting appliances. The latest form is fitted with an automatic apparatus by which no record can appear on the automatic recording gauge until the evacuation of air from the disinfection chamber is complete, thus preventing disinfection Erom being imperfectly carried out with an admixture of air and steam. Altogether the exhibition was of the greatest interest from a. hygienic point of view, and we have no doubt that it was very generally supported and appreciated by the building tirades.
BRITISH MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND. AT the March meeting of the committee 19 applications for assistance were considered and sums amounting to .&193 voted in relief of 18 of the cases, one being postponed for Two annuities of
Voted JE6.
of Daughter, aged 57 years,from
- md decreasing Voted Elo.
earnings
late 3T.D. Aberd. teaching music.
small Health indifferent.
Dependent on
Daughter, aged 74 years, of late M.R C.S. Only income five guineas Health indifferent and sight failing. Voted 7ear from a charity. E12. 36
1184 Wife, aged 42 years, of L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin. Applicant’s husband has practised for many years as assistant in Lancashire but lost his reason a few months ago and is now confined in an asylum. No income. Two children at school. Voted jE15. Daughter, aged six years, of late L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin. At father’s death, two years ago, applicant had to go to the workhouse but has been removed by an uncle of extremely small means. Voted ;S9, payable to the uncle. M.D. Edin., aged 68 years. Used to be well provided for but lost his capital through the failure of a home for inebriates and other misfortunes. Is now unable to practise on account of ill health. No children. Voted .e18. Daughter, aged 65 years, of late M.D. Unable to obtain remunerative work on account of age. Relieved nine times, ;E79. Voted 212. Widow, aged 47 years, of M.R.C.S., L.S.A. Supports herself as a housekeeper and is obliged to help an invalid son. Relieved eight times, £ 100. Voted £ 10. Widow, aged 35 years, of L.R.C.P. Edin. Endeavours to support herself bv nursing. Two children, aged 12 and three. Relieved three
had to complain of incorrectness in theinfirmier’s’ and plan of treatment."
* In the preface to the second edition, he modestly observes, that he considers his theory at least as valuable an acquisition to mankind, as the discovery of the cow-pox!
VITAL STATISTICS. HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.
times. E30. Voted £ 10. Widow, aged 56 years, of L.F.P.S. Glasg.
Nine children, of whom six are self-supporting and able to give a little help but three still dependent. Relieved eight times, E120. Voted j25. Widow, aged 59 years, of M.R.C.S. Eng. No income; children unable to help; health very indifferent. Relieved once, ;812. Voted E12. Daughter, aged 64 years, of late M.R.C.S. Only income an Relieved twice, E12. Voted E6. annuity of E20 from a Widow, aged 60 years, of L.R.C.S. Edin. Income ;B18 a year. Receives a little help from a son. Is in very bad health. Relieved five
charity.
times..E50. Voted .812. Widow, aged 44 years, of L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. No income; slight help from a son, who is a sailor. Relieved three times, E27. Voted E12.
11LR.C.S., L.S.A., aged 67 years. Has been incapacitated for some years by paralysis and heart disease. Receives a small superannuation allowance. Eight children, only able to give slight help. Relieved five times, .E75. Voted .E15. Widow, aged 46 years, of M.B., C.M. Income E20a year ; receives slight help from her father-in-law and takes boarders. Seven children, aged 16 to eight. Health indifferent. Relieved eight times, E90. Voted 212. Daughter, aged 49 years, of late M.R.C.S. Income :E8 a year; practically disabled by an accident. Relieved once, JB5. Voted E12.
Looking Back. FROM
THE LANCET, SATURDAY, April 25th, 1829. FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.
M. BROUSSAIS. WE glad to see, that the gastro-enteritido mania of our neighbours is at last gradually* subsiding ; indeed, whatever share M. Broussais’ arrogance may have had in securing to his doctrine the extraordinary applause it met with, this was, we apprehend, still more owing to the commodiousness of his principles. How could it be otherwise than acceptable to many, at once to render unnecessary the study of pathology and therapeutics, by proclaiming gastro-enteritis to be the only disease, and the application of leeches as the only are
remedy. Our readers will be greatly amused by a description of the in which the medical practice is carried on at the Hopital Val de Grace ; taken from the inaugural dissertation of a young physician who attended there as a pupil. "When I,""he says, "was appointed one of the dressers at the hospital, I had but a very incorrect notion of the * doctrine physiologique.’ It having, in this capacity, become my duty to examine and prescribe for the patients, who had been admitted after the regular morning visit of the physician, I was not a little uneasy at my responsibility, until one of my colleagues set my mind perfectly at ease, by the manner in which he managed the affair. The only thing was to ask how many new patients there were in attendance, and then to order a sufficient number of leeches, to allow thirty for each patient. Thus armed, he went through his wards, where he had only the trouble of applying his leeches either to the abdomen or to the anus, an alternative which had already been settled by the , infirmier,’ who asked each patient at his entrance, whether he had diarrhoea or pain in the abdomen, and in the former case, placed a piece of oil-cloth between the legs, in the latter, over the abdomen; by these symbols, the young practitioner knew at once where to apply his thirty leeches, whether to the anus or abdomen, and, indeed, he hardly ever manner
diagnosis
’
IN 76 of the largest English towns 9206 births and 514& leaths were registered during the week ending April 20th. Che annual rate of mortality, which had been equal to 17’9& md 16’9per 1000 in the two preceding weeks, further leclined to 16 ’ 8 in the week under notice. During the first ;hree weeks of the current quarter the death-rate in these iowns averaged 17’2 per 1000, the rate during the same period in London being only 16’8. The lowest rates in tihe.76 towns last week were 4’ 6 in Hornsey, 9’4 in Coventry, 3’5 in Handsworth, and 10’ 0 in Hastings ; the rates in the other towns ranged upwards to 24’3in Ipswich, 24’7in Wigan, 24’ 8 in St. Helens, and 27’ 2 in Hanley. The 5149 deaths in the 76 towns showed a further decline of 47 from the numbers. in the two preceding weeks, and included 506 which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases, against 569 and 544 in the two previous weeks ; of these, 216 resulted from measles, 155 from whooping-cough, 44 from diphtheria, 35 from diarrhoea, 33 from scarlet fever, 23 from "fever" (principally enteric), but not one from small-pox. No death from any of these epidemic diseases was registered last week in Plymouth, Southampton, Hornsey, York, or in eight other smaller towns ; the annual rates from these diseases, however, ranged upwards in the other towns to 4’0 in Birkenhead, 4 -6 in Middlesbrough, 5’11 in Bolton, and 5’9 in Nottingham. The fatal cases of measles in the 76 towns, which had been 251 and 228 in the two previous weeks, further declined last week to 216 ; they caused the highest annual death-rates, 3’ 1 in Middlesbrough, 3’6 in Nottingham, 3’77 in Bolton, and 4’00 in Birkenhead. The 155 deaths from whooping-cough were fewer by 16 than the number in the previous week; they were proportionally most numerous in West Hartlepool, Nottingham, Salford, and Tottenham. Diphtheria showed the greatest fatality in Swansea, Rochdale, and Reading ; diarrhoea in Middlesbrough ; scarlet fever in Sheffield, and "fever" in Wigan. No case of small-pox has been under treatment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals since the end of June last. The number of scarlet fever patients in these hospitals and in the London Fever Hospital, which had been 2686 and 2637 in the two previous weeks, had further declined to 2628 at the end of the week under notice; 361 new cases were, however, admitted during the week, against 352 and 296 in the two preceding weeks. The deaths referred to pneumonia and other diseases of the respiratory organs, in London, which had been 412 and 355 in the two previous weeks, further declined to 326 in the week under notice, but exceeded by 15 the corrected average number in the corresponding week of the five years 1902-06. The causes of 47, or 0-9percent., of the deaths registered during the week were not certified either by a registered medical practitioner or by a coroner. All the causes of death were duly certified in Leeds, in Bristol, West Ham, Bradford, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and in 53 other of the 76 towns ; the proportion of uncertified deaths, however, again showed considerable excess in Birmingham, Liverpool, Sunderland, South Shields, and Rochdale. __
HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.
The annual rate of mortality in eight of the principal Scotch towns, which had been equal to 19-4and 20 2 per 1000 in the two preceding weeks, declined again to 20’ 0 in the week ending April 20th, but exceeded by 3’2 the mean rate during the same week in the 76 large English towns. The rates in the eight Scotch towns ranged from 10-6 and 15-8 8 in Paisley and Aberdeen to 22-2in Glasgow and 25-6 in Leith. The 695 deaths in the eight towns were within five of the number returned in the previous week, and included 133 which were renumber principal epidemic diseases, steadily from 100 to 124 in the five preceding
ferred to the increasing
against
,
the
in the same
house, since
service.
"
Doulton and
Company’s exhibit (Lambeth Potteries, London, comprehensive and included a really handsome display of sanitary appliances, such as bath-room fittings, lavatory accessories, water-closets, sinks, drains, and glazed pipes, besides an installation of fireplaces and mantelpieces in glazed ware. In the "Surveyor"section Messrs. Horsfall of Lordstreet works, Whitehall-road, Leeds, exhibited a model of S.E.)
was
most
their "tub-feed" refuse destructor, as well as of their "cupola"type destructor and a forced draught smokeconsuming furnace. The exhibit included some specimens Close by were various specimens of of clinker flags, &c. "tarmac," shown by Tarmac, Limited, of Ettingshall, Wolverhampton. "Tarmac"is manufactured from ironRoads made stone slag, impregnated with tar oils. with it are said to be free from dust, mud, or grease. The Ames-Crosta Sanitary Engineering Company, Limited, of City Chambers, South Parade, Nottingham, exhibited their sewage disposal specialities, including the " Simplex " automatic sewage sprinkler and the "Coleman"automatic " sewage valve worked by a mercury balance. The "Ames" tiles also should be mentioned as a simple device for ensuring drainage and aeration of bacteria beds and for the flooring of water filter beds. The Candy Filter Company of 5, Westminster Palace-gardens, Artillery-row, Westminster, London, S.W., exhibited plans and drawings of installations of the Candy patent automatic compressed air and oxidising waterworks filters as well as samples of "oxidium,"a mineral oxidising substance for purifying water. At the same stall were working models of the Candy-Whittaker sewage distributor. Messrs. Ham, Baker and Co., of 13, Grosvenor-road, Westminster, London, S.W., similarly exhibited their ingenious travelling sewage distributor for rectangular filterbeds and a number of other sewage engineering appliances. "Tarspra"of Tarspra, Limited, of 20, Victoria-street, Westminster, London, S.W., is said to have solved the "dust" and "skid"problem of the roads. Hundreds of miles of roads, it isstated, can be treated with "tarspra"" in a few weeks. Mr. William E. Farrer of Star Works, Cambridge-street, Birmingham, exhibited his improved automatic sewage distributor, which appears to be particularly well adapted for small installations-as, for example, country houses. Close by was a working model of the "Sterling " refuse destructor (Messrs. Hughes and Co., 7, Arundel-street, Strand, London, W.C.), which is said to do its work very efrectually and without causing the slightest nuisance. An example of obtaining power from waste could be seen in the destructor of Messrs. Heenan and Froude of 4, Chapelwalks, Manchester. In the same section Messrs. George Jennings, Limited, of Lambeth Palace-road, London, S.E., exhibited a number of "up-to-date"appliances connected with the disposal of sewage, while Messrs. Defries and Son, Limited, of 146 and 147, Houndsditch, London, E.C., exhibited illustrations of their Equifex steam disinfecting appliances. The latest form is fitted with an automatic apparatus by which no record can appear on the automatic recording gauge until the evacuation of air from the disinfection chamber is complete, thus preventing disinfection Erom being imperfectly carried out with an admixture of air and steam. Altogether the exhibition was of the greatest interest from a. hygienic point of view, and we have no doubt that it was very generally supported and appreciated by the building tirades.
BRITISH MEDICAL BENEVOLENT FUND. AT the March meeting of the committee 19 applications for assistance were considered and sums amounting to .&193 voted in relief of 18 of the cases, one being postponed for Two annuities of
Voted JE6.
of Daughter, aged 57 years,from
- md decreasing Voted Elo.
earnings
late 3T.D. Aberd. teaching music.
small Health indifferent.
Dependent on
Daughter, aged 74 years, of late M.R C.S. Only income five guineas Health indifferent and sight failing. Voted 7ear from a charity. E12. 36
1184 Wife, aged 42 years, of L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin. Applicant’s husband has practised for many years as assistant in Lancashire but lost his reason a few months ago and is now confined in an asylum. No income. Two children at school. Voted jE15. Daughter, aged six years, of late L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. Edin. At father’s death, two years ago, applicant had to go to the workhouse but has been removed by an uncle of extremely small means. Voted ;S9, payable to the uncle. M.D. Edin., aged 68 years. Used to be well provided for but lost his capital through the failure of a home for inebriates and other misfortunes. Is now unable to practise on account of ill health. No children. Voted .e18. Daughter, aged 65 years, of late M.D. Unable to obtain remunerative work on account of age. Relieved nine times, ;E79. Voted 212. Widow, aged 47 years, of M.R.C.S., L.S.A. Supports herself as a housekeeper and is obliged to help an invalid son. Relieved eight times, £ 100. Voted £ 10. Widow, aged 35 years, of L.R.C.P. Edin. Endeavours to support herself bv nursing. Two children, aged 12 and three. Relieved three
had to complain of incorrectness in theinfirmier’s’ and plan of treatment."
* In the preface to the second edition, he modestly observes, that he considers his theory at least as valuable an acquisition to mankind, as the discovery of the cow-pox!
VITAL STATISTICS. HEALTH OF ENGLISH TOWNS.
times. E30. Voted £ 10. Widow, aged 56 years, of L.F.P.S. Glasg.
Nine children, of whom six are self-supporting and able to give a little help but three still dependent. Relieved eight times, E120. Voted j25. Widow, aged 59 years, of M.R.C.S. Eng. No income; children unable to help; health very indifferent. Relieved once, ;812. Voted E12. Daughter, aged 64 years, of late M.R.C.S. Only income an Relieved twice, E12. Voted E6. annuity of E20 from a Widow, aged 60 years, of L.R.C.S. Edin. Income ;B18 a year. Receives a little help from a son. Is in very bad health. Relieved five
charity.
times..E50. Voted .812. Widow, aged 44 years, of L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. No income; slight help from a son, who is a sailor. Relieved three times, E27. Voted E12.
11LR.C.S., L.S.A., aged 67 years. Has been incapacitated for some years by paralysis and heart disease. Receives a small superannuation allowance. Eight children, only able to give slight help. Relieved five times, .E75. Voted .E15. Widow, aged 46 years, of M.B., C.M. Income E20a year ; receives slight help from her father-in-law and takes boarders. Seven children, aged 16 to eight. Health indifferent. Relieved eight times, E90. Voted 212. Daughter, aged 49 years, of late M.R.C.S. Income :E8 a year; practically disabled by an accident. Relieved once, JB5. Voted E12.
Looking Back. FROM
THE LANCET, SATURDAY, April 25th, 1829. FOREIGN DEPARTMENT.
M. BROUSSAIS. WE glad to see, that the gastro-enteritido mania of our neighbours is at last gradually* subsiding ; indeed, whatever share M. Broussais’ arrogance may have had in securing to his doctrine the extraordinary applause it met with, this was, we apprehend, still more owing to the commodiousness of his principles. How could it be otherwise than acceptable to many, at once to render unnecessary the study of pathology and therapeutics, by proclaiming gastro-enteritis to be the only disease, and the application of leeches as the only are
remedy. Our readers will be greatly amused by a description of the in which the medical practice is carried on at the Hopital Val de Grace ; taken from the inaugural dissertation of a young physician who attended there as a pupil. "When I,""he says, "was appointed one of the dressers at the hospital, I had but a very incorrect notion of the * doctrine physiologique.’ It having, in this capacity, become my duty to examine and prescribe for the patients, who had been admitted after the regular morning visit of the physician, I was not a little uneasy at my responsibility, until one of my colleagues set my mind perfectly at ease, by the manner in which he managed the affair. The only thing was to ask how many new patients there were in attendance, and then to order a sufficient number of leeches, to allow thirty for each patient. Thus armed, he went through his wards, where he had only the trouble of applying his leeches either to the abdomen or to the anus, an alternative which had already been settled by the , infirmier,’ who asked each patient at his entrance, whether he had diarrhoea or pain in the abdomen, and in the former case, placed a piece of oil-cloth between the legs, in the latter, over the abdomen; by these symbols, the young practitioner knew at once where to apply his thirty leeches, whether to the anus or abdomen, and, indeed, he hardly ever manner
diagnosis
’
IN 76 of the largest English towns 9206 births and 514& leaths were registered during the week ending April 20th. Che annual rate of mortality, which had been equal to 17’9& md 16’9per 1000 in the two preceding weeks, further leclined to 16 ’ 8 in the week under notice. During the first ;hree weeks of the current quarter the death-rate in these iowns averaged 17’2 per 1000, the rate during the same period in London being only 16’8. The lowest rates in tihe.76 towns last week were 4’ 6 in Hornsey, 9’4 in Coventry, 3’5 in Handsworth, and 10’ 0 in Hastings ; the rates in the other towns ranged upwards to 24’3in Ipswich, 24’7in Wigan, 24’ 8 in St. Helens, and 27’ 2 in Hanley. The 5149 deaths in the 76 towns showed a further decline of 47 from the numbers. in the two preceding weeks, and included 506 which were referred to the principal epidemic diseases, against 569 and 544 in the two previous weeks ; of these, 216 resulted from measles, 155 from whooping-cough, 44 from diphtheria, 35 from diarrhoea, 33 from scarlet fever, 23 from "fever" (principally enteric), but not one from small-pox. No death from any of these epidemic diseases was registered last week in Plymouth, Southampton, Hornsey, York, or in eight other smaller towns ; the annual rates from these diseases, however, ranged upwards in the other towns to 4’0 in Birkenhead, 4 -6 in Middlesbrough, 5’11 in Bolton, and 5’9 in Nottingham. The fatal cases of measles in the 76 towns, which had been 251 and 228 in the two previous weeks, further declined last week to 216 ; they caused the highest annual death-rates, 3’ 1 in Middlesbrough, 3’6 in Nottingham, 3’77 in Bolton, and 4’00 in Birkenhead. The 155 deaths from whooping-cough were fewer by 16 than the number in the previous week; they were proportionally most numerous in West Hartlepool, Nottingham, Salford, and Tottenham. Diphtheria showed the greatest fatality in Swansea, Rochdale, and Reading ; diarrhoea in Middlesbrough ; scarlet fever in Sheffield, and "fever" in Wigan. No case of small-pox has been under treatment in the Metropolitan Asylums Hospitals since the end of June last. The number of scarlet fever patients in these hospitals and in the London Fever Hospital, which had been 2686 and 2637 in the two previous weeks, had further declined to 2628 at the end of the week under notice; 361 new cases were, however, admitted during the week, against 352 and 296 in the two preceding weeks. The deaths referred to pneumonia and other diseases of the respiratory organs, in London, which had been 412 and 355 in the two previous weeks, further declined to 326 in the week under notice, but exceeded by 15 the corrected average number in the corresponding week of the five years 1902-06. The causes of 47, or 0-9percent., of the deaths registered during the week were not certified either by a registered medical practitioner or by a coroner. All the causes of death were duly certified in Leeds, in Bristol, West Ham, Bradford, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and in 53 other of the 76 towns ; the proportion of uncertified deaths, however, again showed considerable excess in Birmingham, Liverpool, Sunderland, South Shields, and Rochdale. __
HEALTH OF SCOTCH TOWNS.
The annual rate of mortality in eight of the principal Scotch towns, which had been equal to 19-4and 20 2 per 1000 in the two preceding weeks, declined again to 20’ 0 in the week ending April 20th, but exceeded by 3’2 the mean rate during the same week in the 76 large English towns. The rates in the eight Scotch towns ranged from 10-6 and 15-8 8 in Paisley and Aberdeen to 22-2in Glasgow and 25-6 in Leith. The 695 deaths in the eight towns were within five of the number returned in the previous week, and included 133 which were renumber principal epidemic diseases, steadily from 100 to 124 in the five preceding
ferred to the increasing
against
,