THE NOTIFICATION OF MEASLES.

534 methods of such a society. He based the primary claim of child study on the bearing it had on education and was convinced that systematically undertaken it would tend to give right ideas and to eradicate wrong ones, and thus be 11 influential on the practice of education." In the past psychologists had been too introspective, and had given the results of self-analysis, and had thus evolved a psychosages; but it was most desirable that they should their make science more thoroughly comparative by the investigation of psychological processes in minds at a lower stage of development. By working hand-in-hand ’’ the trained psychologist and the teacher by profession would attain to results which in the largest and fullest sense would tend to give right ideas and eradicate false and erroneous notions." Professor Morgan said the subject of perception and conception as exercised in tolerably close touch with sensory data would, he was sure, amply suffice for the session’s work. He indicated what could be done in testing the sensory endowments. The range and accuracy of vision, the perception of colour, the recognition of visual objects, experiments on hearing, observations on pressure perception, space perception, memory, and the subject of association and suggestion were among the points discussed. Dr. Mumford, who has taken the initiative in the formation of the local society, in which he was ably backed by Professor Alexander, proposed, and Professor Wilkins seconded, a vote of thanks to Professor Morgan for his address. The of child for the life and the study patient watching of the and mental facultiesgradual development physical for the first smile of recognition-afford as fascinating a study as any young mother wishes for or can imagine; but the "scientific" observation of "their powers of estimating angular value or relative weight"will perhaps only be thoroughly appreciated by the "new woman." And the nursemaids, whose aid Dr. Ashby invokes, must surely be required to undergo training and registration"before being called on to give the results of their observations. Professor Morgan says, truly enough, that the child’s cooperation must be obtained, and that if while making experiments on his perceptive powers the "trained psychologists" sat solemnly by, taking mysterious notes, he did not think the results would be satisfactory. "We must place ourselves as nearly as might be on the same plane as the children. What we desired them to do we too ourselves must do. The observers’ notes should be written up afterwards." These are most judicious remarks, showing already some knowledge of child life. It would be charming to see the professors become "as little children," and most interesting to know the verdict of the experimented on the perceptive faculties of the experimenters. There is much we should like to learn as to the " dawn of intelligence," and we wish the

logy of

society every success.

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THE NOTIFICATION OF MEASLES. IT has for a long time now been a disputed point as to whether or not measles should be included among the notifiable diseases. At first sight it would appear inconsistent not to include within the Act a disease which is at the same time one of the most infectious and fatal of those which prevail in this country. Further consideration, however, will quickly show that there are many difficulties in the way of making the fact of notification a useful means of checking epidemics, and it has actually been shown that in many places where such a system has been adopted the epidemics have been quite as widespread and uncontrollable as before. In times when no epidemic is in existence it is probable that the notification of odd cases might occasionally lead to prevention of further spread, but when an epidemic has once set in the difficulties become enormous.

The disease spreads so rapidly that to ensure any chance at all of stamping it out at its commencement a large staff would always have to be kept in readiness, which would lead to a very great expenditure and a very doubtful gain. The onset of measles makes it a very difficult disease to identify in the early stage, for, unlike the more definite onset of scarlet fever with the early appearance of a rash, its first symptoms are often treated with the family remedies for a cold, and it i3 usually not until the seeds of infection have been widely scattered that its nature is definitely recognised and measures are undertaken to prevent it spreading. On the other hand, if this disease came within the Act it might, perhaps, teach the public to look upon it with rather more awe, which it is rightly entitled to by reason of its great fatality. We have before us a report on this subject which Dr. Corfield has made to the vestry of the parish of St. George Hanover-square, in which, after due consideration, he advises that body not to adopt the system of notification. His inquiries into the subject show that the plan has failed to produce any effect in many places where it has been adopted and he does not think that the doubtful advantages received would in any way justify the enormous expenditure which the adoption of such a scheme would necessitate. Among the methods for checking an epidemic Dr. Corfield has great faith in the early closing of infant schools, which, if adopted soon enough, should be very beneficial, and he further dispels the illusion that children catch the disease just as easily after the school is closed by playicg with each other in the courtyards and streets, for fresh air is always an antagonist to disease, though we are afraid that the germs may live comfortably, even if they do not thrive, in the stagnant and darkened atmosphere which occupies the limited spaces between so many London dwellings.

CENSURE BY A CORONER. FROM a report in the East Anglian Daily Times it appears that on Feb. 4th an inquest was held by Mr. J. Harrison, coroner for Essex, at Wivenhoe, touching the death of Henry Robert Childs, aged fifty-six years, a painter. The body of deceased was found in the Colne in about three feet of water and four or five yards from the edge. After the tide had gone down footmarks could be traced for sixty yards down the sand from the sea wall. During the inquiry the jury expressed a desire to know when Dr. Hewlett of Wivenhoe last attended deceased and for what malady. In furtherance of this wish the coroner despatched his officer to ask Dr. Hewlett for information or to request his attendance. Dr. Hewlett replied : 11 I decline to give any information here, as I consider it unprofessional to give evidence and testimony to a police officer which should be given only by the medical man in person at the coroner’s court. I was prepared and, moreover, perfectly willing to attend the inquiry as a witness if desired." On the message being reported to the coroner he said to the officer : "You tell Dr. Hewlett from me that if he sends me messages like that I shall commit him for contempt of court, and he will find himself in a funny position." Subsequently he informed the jury that Dr. Hewlett had sent back "a most insulting message"and that unless he had an apology he should certainly have him before him next time he had an inquest in Wivenhoe. If the facts are correctly reported, we have no hesitation in saying that, in our opinion, Dr. Hewlett’s action was consonant with both the spirit and the letter of the law. A medical man is not bound to state to a coroner’s officer the evidence he would be able to give. Nor do we consider a verbal request to attend an inquest is sufficient. By the statute 6 and 7 Will. IV,, c. 89, the first section enacts " that whenever it shall appear that the deceased person was attended ...... during his last illness