190 months. Diphtheria was also less prevalent during Decemberto registered births, was equal to 173 per 1000. The lowest than it had been in either of the two preceding months ; therates of infant mortality were recorded in St. Marylebone, greatest proportional prevalence of this disease occurred iHampstead, Hackney, Holborn, Southwark, and Camber- in Fulham, St. Pancras, Hackney, Bethnal Green, and well ; and the highest rates in Hammersmith, Chelsea, Camberwell. There were 1369 diphtheria patients under ;: Finsbury, City of London, Shoreditch, Bethnal Green, and treatment at the end of last month, against 1499, 1570, and ! Bermondsey. 1504 at the end of the three preceding months ; the weekly admissions averaged 160, against 248, 243, and 200 in the three preceding months. The prevalence of enteric fever THE SERVICES. showed some diminution as compared with that in recent months ; among the various metropolitan boroughs the greatest proportional prevalence of this disease occurred in ’ ROYAL NAVY MEDICAL SERVICE. Stoke Bethnal Chelsea, Newington, Hackney, Holborn, Green, THE are notified :-Fleet Sur- and Camberwell. The number of enteric fever following appointments Bermondsey, W. S. to the E. H. Saunders to the under treatment in the hos- geons : Lightfoot Eagle; patients Metropolitan Asylums I Vivid for Naval J. to the which had been and 245 at the end of the Keyham Barracks ; Dudley Lion; pitals, 292, 291, and A. Patterson to the Laerid for three had further declined to 195 on Devonport Dockyard. preceding months, Staff J. to Haslar J. Dec. the admissions Surgeons : Barry Hospital, temporary ; 28th ; weekly averaged 21, against 50, Jenkins to the Andromache; R. Miller to the and and 32 in the three months. was Liffey; 38, preceding Erysipelas A. MacLean to the G. T. to proportionally most prevalent in Hackney, Holborn, Bethnal Collingwood. Surgeons : Bishop Haslar Hospital ; G. M. 0. Richards to the Irresistible; Southwark, and Camberwell. The 18 cases of Poplar, A. H. Prichard to the Redbreast; ; and J. S. to the puerperal fever included three in Islington, and two each in Dudding St. Pancras, and Lewisham. Antelope. Poplar, Camberwell, ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS. The mortality statistics in the table relate to the deaths of Colonel J. H. retires on retired on account persons actually belonging to the various metropolitan Moore, pay boroughs, the deaths occurring in the public institutions of ill-health. London having been distributed among the boroughs in which VOLUNTEER CORPS. the deceased persons had previously resided. During the four Royal Engineers 2nd Gloucester (the Bristol) : Surgeon- weeks Dec. the deaths ending 28th of 6558 persons belonging Lieutenant T. Carwardine his commission. : resigns -Rifle: , to London were registered, equal to an annual rate of 18’8 2nd Volunteer Battalion the Northumberland Fusiliers : per 1000, against 15-4, 15-4, and 20-0 per 1000 in the three Surgeon-Lieutenant D. K. Muir to be Surgeon-Captain. preceding months. The lowest death-rates last month in 2nd (Hertfordshire) Volunteer Battalion the Bedfordshire the various metropolitan boroughs were 11’4 in Hampstead, The undermentioned officer resigns his commis- 13’7 in Stoke 15’0 in 15’5 in Newington, Wandsworth, Regimentsion, with : permission to retain his rank and to wear the 16 0 in and 16 ’2 in the Paddington, Woolwich, Lewisham ; of the battalion on retirement : Surgeon-Captain highest rates were 22’7 in Bermondsey, 23’4 in Finsbury, uniformR. L. Batterbury. 3rd Volunteer Battalion the South Wales 24-2 in Bethnal Green, 24’4 in Hammersmith, 24-7 in Borderers : John William Davies is re-appointed Surgeon- Holborn, and 25 2 in Shoreditch. The 6558 deaths from all Captain. 3rd (the Blythswood) Volunteer Battalion the causes during the month included 655 which were referred Highland Light Infantry : Surgeon-Lieutenant J. W. Logie to the principal zymotic diseases ; of these 90 resulted from to be Surgeon-Captain. small-pox, 244 from measles, 52 from scarlet fever, 128 from diphtheria, 63 from whooping-cough, 28 from enteric fever, SOUTH AFRICAN WAR NOTES. and 50 from diarrhoea. The lowest death-rates from these Civil Surgeon Reid who was reported to be severely diseases were recorded in Chelsea, St. Marylebone, Hamp- wounded at Tweefontein was Godfrey Forrest Reid, M.A., stead, Stoke Newington, and Woolwich, and the highest M.D., B.Ch. Dub., late district surgeon at Bethlehem, Orange rates in Kensington, Hammersmith, Islington, Holborn, River Colony, South Africa. He died on Dec. 27th, 1901. Shoreditch, and Bethnal Green. The fatal cases of small- The following have been discharged from hospital to pox, which had been 24, 29, and 73 in the three duty: Major D. R. Hamilton, R.A.M.C., Captain C. B. preceding months, further rose last month to 90, of Martin, R.A.M.C., and Lieutenant W. J. P. Adye-Curran, which 12 belonged to Holborn, 11 to Hammersmith, 11 to R.A.M.C. Major D. R. Hamilton is returning home from Stepney, seven to St. Pancras, six to Southwark, and five to South Africa in the Kildonan Castle. The 244 deaths from measles showed a Bermondsey. slight AFFAIRS IN SOUTH AFRICA. increase over the average number in the corresponding periods As our and the of of the 10 preceding years ; among the various metropolitan regards military progress general aspect affairs in South Africa the from that are on boroughs this disease was proportionally most fatal in Ken- reports country sington, Hammersmith, City of Westminster, Islington, the whole satisfactory. Among the many other unexpected which have occurred in the course of this war no one Shoreditch, and Bethnal Green. The 52 fatal cases of things to have foreseen that while Mr. was scarlet fever were considerably less than the corrected appears Kruger safely his ease in his Mr. average number ; the greatest proportional fatality from this taking opulent Europe confrere, Steyn, disease occurred in Kensington, St. Pancras, Bethnal Green, would be still found in the field, and that many of the hardest Southwark, and Bermondsey. The 128 deaths from and most obstinate of our foes as well as some of the most redoubtable leaders of the Boers should have come were 83 below the average number in the last diphtheria from his of the and not from the but four weeks of the 10 preceding years ; the metropolitan part country Transvaal; boroughs in which the greatest proportional mortality so it is. It was only to be expected that with the present season there should be an increase of enteric fever from this disease was recorded were Fulham, St Pancras, among Bethnal Green, and The 63 fatal our troops serving in South Africa, and a glance at the sick Finsbury, Deptford. returns which have been suffices to show cases of whooping-cough, showed a decline of more than recently published that such has been the case. There a 100 from the corrected average number; this disease is, unhappily, deal of this fever at the time and the was proportionally most fatal in Stepney, Poplar, good present Lambeth, Camberwell, and Lewisham. The 28 deaths causes of it must be indeed widely spread, for it would

. seem that wherever there are British cases of enteric referred to enteric fever were 111 less than the average troops number in the of the 10 . fever are almost sure to occur. Both in this country and in corresponding periods preceding there , the colonies exists a deal of years ; the highest "fever" death-rates last week were . naturally enough good recorded in of Holborn indignation at the accusations of all kinds that have appeared City Westminster, Islington, in the continental in and Battersea. The 50 fatal cases of diarrhoea were . press-of Germany particular-against our officers and men in South Africa. We need not that slightly below the corrected average number; amom say are unfounded and are so base and the various metropolitan boroughs the greatest pro ; they utterly absurd, that it is should ever have been portional fatality from this disease occurred in Hammer e indeed, surprising they smith, Fulham, St. Marylebone, Hampstead, Shoreditch published, or if published, credited, by intelligent and decent and Poplar. In conclusion, it may be stated that th, people. aggregate mortality in London from these diseases during r THE PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER IN INDIA. December was more than 18 ’8 per cent. below the average. Colonel Sir Thomas Gallwey, K.C.M.G., C.B., R.A.M.C., Infant mortality in London last month, measured by the who is selected for appointment as Principal Medical proportion of deaths among children under one year of ag3 Officer in India with the rank of Surgeon-General, is 191 now in his forty-ninth year. He will pass over the request, they may be in a better position to ofEer an explana-- heads of a number of officers of his rank ; but in tion of the complication which he describes. the present list of surgeon-generals there are many who I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, are not far from retirement for age. Surgeon-General JOHN W. MOORE. W. S. M. Price, A. M. S., now acting as Principal Medical Dublin, Jan. 11th, 1902. Officer in India, has seen his fifty-eighth birthday, and was for the Indian Government, it is understood, disqualified THE because he had less than three years to serve before retire- RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO ment by age. SANITARY REFORM. MEDICAL AID FOR SOLDIERS ON FURLOUGH. To the Editors of THE LANCET. Soldiers on who medical aid and who are furlough require of the remarks in the article unable reason of distance from a station to STRS,-Most leading entitled;. by military apply The Church and Sanitary Reform," in THE LANCET of Jan. for it to the officer commanding, may in future obtain the llth (p. 104), are very timely and will be welcome to the services of a civil medical to whom they are to practitioner, who set a value on the close show their and the medical man will be clergy (like myself) high furlough paper, alliance which has subsisted since the time of Jesus Christ allowed to claim from the War Office for attendance, and His between and medicines, and the like at the rate laid down in the apostles spiritual teaching physical Royal I fear the structural our Warrant. healing. that defects of churches. from the are almost our reach NAVAL MEDICAL SUPPLEMENTAL FUND. sanitary standpoint beyond as clergy, for architects are proverbially self-opinionated ; but At a of the directors of the Naval quarterly meeting I doubt whether places of public assembly are one-hundredth Medical Fund held on Jan. Sir J. N. Supplemental 14th, part so dangerous as the badly-ventilated rooms where in the the sum of 975 was dis- Dick, K.C.B., being chair, dwell. Our churches, even when crowded tributed the several people habitually among applicants. on Sundays, are tolerably full of fresh air most of the week, and after a large experience of public halls I can. say that the air is purer there than in most dwellings. Had you instanced the ventilation of our elementary day-- safelyschools there would have been better support for your argu- Correspondence. ments. Most of them at 4 P. M. are scandalously oppressive. With regard to the last part of your article I do not think. "Audi alteram partem." that the rubric alluded to contemplates the question of infec- tion at all. The only rubric that does so is the last one in. the office for the in which will, SOCIETY FOR RELIEF OF WIDOWS , communicating sick ; you AND see there is special provision for excusing friends and, ORPHANS OF MEDICAL MEN. neighbours from participation. Clergy who officiate at, To the Editors of THE LANCET. private no less than at public celebrations are expected reverently to consume all that remains of the consecrated SIRS,-In the autumn of 1900 you were good enoughelements, and therefore the Church accepts (for the to allow me to call the attention of the metro-’ younger at any whatever risks there may be. Life- members of the to the ministry rate) politan profession advantagesassurance societies are agreed that they are very few. This offered the above The result was that last by society. problem would become a negligible quantity if ministers who. year we enrolled 35 new members. May I venture againhand the chalice to communicants would wipe the edge with to on kindness in order to out that trespass your point fair linen cloth as they pass from one to another. The- medical man within 20 miles of any qualified residing ’ subsequent treatment of such "purincators" is very well Charing-cross can be proposed as a member, the annualunderstood. Anglicans consider the chalice from. two for 25 ? But withholding subscription being guineas, payable years ? laity to be an evasion of the words, I I Drink ye all of annual subscriber become a life-member within 10the any may this "; and there is a of fellowship and affection of his election his to suggestion years by making up subscription 25in the mutual use of one vessel for communicants. he have been many guineas if shall under 30 years of age, to we should be loth to lose. if have which 30 guineas he shall been under 40 years of age, and I am. Sirs. vours faithfullv. to 35 guineas if he shall have been over 40 years of age at C. ARTHUR LANE. the time of his election as a member of the society. For St. Mark’s Lodge, New Barnet, Herts, Jan. 13th, 1902. the especial benefit of young members I may point out that a member under 30 of at the time of his election years age To the -Editors of THE LANCET. can compound for a single payment of 20 guineas, under reference to the annotation on "The Rela-- 40 for 25 and over 40 for 30 SIRS,-With guineas, guineas, thereby tion of the Church to in THE LANCET becoming a life-member and his widow at once being eligible Sanitary Reform," of Jan. there is much no for a grant should her circumstances unfortunately justify 4th, p. 104, truth, doubt, it. The secretary is Mr. J. B. Blackett, 11, Chandos-street, in what is said therein, though it is to be questioned Cavendish-square, London, W. whether in these days of independent thought and action the is not over-estimated. I am I am. Sirs. vours faithfullv. influence of the clergyman to a much-felt want in connexion Jan. 13th, 1902. CHRISTOPHER HEATH, President. writing, however, express with the vaccination question-viz., that of good serviceable ’’ literature in the form of pamphlets, circulars, and bright, AN UNUSUAL COMPLICATION OF telling tracts suitable for distribution, reading at mothers’ for the and others in INFLUENZA. meetings, and posting clergy up the incontestible facts and figures which are necessary to To the Editors of THE LANCET. convince the obdurate. Even we clergymen’s wives might SIRS,-Although it is an ungrateful task to call in ques- do something for the cause amongst the women if we tion the accuracy of a brother practitioner’s diagnosis, had such. The subject of vaccination was recently put particularly in a case which one has not himself seen and down for debate at a working-man’s club in this parish, but examined, yet I venture to ask Mr. J. G. Carruthers whether the leader lamented to me beforehand that he had no the case reported by him under the above heading statistics on which to rely, only a general sense that vaccina- in THE LANCET of Jan. llth, page 89, may not tion was wise and desirable. We are frequently inundated bear another interpretation. Certainly the diagnosis with pamphlets from the anti-vaccinationists, anti-vivisec- of influenza does not carry with it conviction to my tionists, non-flesh-eating, and kindred faddists, but of the mind. Surely ’’ typical influenza" would not progress sort mentioned above none come our way. Is it not time, "in the usual manner" from Nov. llth to Dec. 1st. It with the probability of the near spread of small-pox, that this is, of course, a matter for regret that no post-mortem should be remedied ?? I am emboldened to add name and examination was made. But from the clinical side alone the address in the hope that one of your readers may either send case reads very like one of typhoid fever terminating fatally us some such literature or enlighten us as to where it may in the fourth week by intestinal haemorrhage. Perhaps be obtained. I am. Sirs. vours faithfully, Mr. Carruthers will kindly furnish your readers with the ELLEN HOWELL. details of the case, particularly in regard to the behaviour All Saints’ Vicarage, Derby, Jan. 14th, 1902 of the temperature, in order that, in accordance with’his *** If our correspondent will write to Dr. Francis T. Bond