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were intended only to apply to the process of commontinning in which lead is used, and therefore the makingof tin plates-iron plates coated with tin-and pure

tinning were exempted. The making of ° ° terne " plates,which includes the use of lead, was also exemptedbecause the special process adopted involved no harm. It

would appear that in the common tinning process leadcannot be dispensed with, but there is reason for believingthat by the adoption of an efficient draught near the scene ofthe operation the risk of lead-poisoning is reduced to a

minimum. Other simple measures, as, for example, the useof soap and a nailbrush and a protective apron by the

employed, are enjoined in order to guard against poisoningby actual contact with the metal or metallic dust.

THE LEAGUE OF MERCY.

MORE than a thousand guests were present at the gardenparty which was given by the Prince and Princess of Walesto the members of the League of Mercy at MarlboroughHouse on July 7th. Preceding the reception in the gardensome 140 of the presidents and lady presidents of the

League met, under the presidency of the Prince of Wales,in Marlborough House, when a report of the work of

the League during the past year was read by Mr. J.

Harrison, M.V.O. His Royal Highness in his address said :’’ The progress of the League of Mercy, as measured by theamount handed over to the King’s Hospital Fund, withcontributions made to hospitals in the home counties, and thenumbers engaged in the work of the League, has during thepast year shown no sign of decrease. Last year £19,000 weregiven to the King’s Fund, as against .BIOOO in the first year ofour work, while .B3495 were contributed to local hospitalsoutside the area of distribution of that Fund, being 50

per cent. more than in the previous year. The League is thusrealising the intention with which it was inaugurated. It is

.familiarising the humbler citizens of London and the suburbswith the work of the hospitals, and securing in some measuretheir cooperation in the maintenance of these institutions."Subsequently the Prince and Princess, with Princess Maryand Prince Henry and Prince George, entered the grounds ofMarlborough House, where the honorary secretaries of theLeague; Lord Wolverton, Sir William J. Collins, M.P., andMr. Harrison, presented to their Royal Highnesses the ladiesand gentlemen who had been awarded the Order of Mercy.

THE MEDICAL TREATMENT OF LONDON SCHOOLCHILDREN.

IN view of the nearness of the long vacation the dayschools sub-committee presented to the London EducationCommittee on July 14th a preliminary report showing whathas been done in the direction of enlisting the aid of thehospitals for the medical treatment of school children in themetropolis. The medical officer for education estimates that

43,746 children out of 740,728 are suffering from affectionsof the eyes, ears, and skin. 39 hospitals have replied to theinquiries of the Council ; six have not expressed anydesire to cooperate ; four hospitals for children and six othersdesire to help as far as existing rules permit; six hospitalshave specifically stated that they can take additional cases.All these decline payment, whilst 16 hospitals are preparedto accept a money payment in one form or another. The

replies also indicate that the hospitals would be opposed toany interference by the Council in the management of theinstitutions, and there is a general feeling that the Councilshould not ask for any special privileges for the children,although some of the hospitals have expressed their willing-ness to afford such facilities. The Education Committeedecided to recommend the Council to accept the freeoffers of the Central London Ophthalmic Hospital, the

London Hospital, the Paddington Green Children’s Hos-

pital, the Queen’s Hospital for Children (Hackney-road),the Royal Westminster Ophthalmic Hospital, and the VictoriaHospital for Children ; and to enter into negotiations withthe authorities of other hospitals to provide treatment in theout-patients’ department for a payment not exceeding £50 a

year for each additional medical assistant (working one-halfday a week) needed for the treatment of the children, togetherwith a sum of 2s. for each child so treated, to cover the other

expenses incurred by the hospitals.

GUY’S HOSPITAL MEDICAL SCHOOL.

OKE of the most interesting of the annual functions con-nected with the London medical schools is the summer dis-

tribution of prizes followed by a garden party in the groundsof Guy’s Hospital. This year the event took place on

July 8th and its success was as great as any of its prede-cessors. The prizes were presented by the Duke ofDevonshire in the Physiological Theatre, where Mr. CosmoBonsor, treasurer of the hospital, occupied the chair. TheDean in his report was able to give a satisfactory account ofthe school work during the past year, and he included in hisremarks a statement that must have been no less satisfactoryto the medical part of his audience and to the parents presentwhose sons will shortly be dependent on medicine for alivelihood. The Dean said : " It is interesting to note thatthis period of depression in the medical profession seemspassing away, and there is no doubt that at the present timethe demand for qualified men far exceeds the supply.Applications are being daily received from provincialhospitals unable to get the medical officers they require,and the income that can be made by the recently qualifiedman is certainly much higher than it was a few years

ago. In the circumstances, therefore, it seems desir-

able to point out to the public that the profession ofmedicine holds out at the present time better prospects thanit has for some years past, and that an income can be

made in its ranks which compares favourably with

that to be made in many other professional careers."The Dean concluded his remarks with a plea for furtherendowment of medical education, which was endorsed by theDuke of Devonshire’s subsequent speech. After the prizeshad been presented, the company joined those who had beenunable to gain admission to the crowded theatre in the

grounds, where a good band and a fortunate sun rendered thegarden party a very pleasant affair, enlivened as it was bythe presence of many lady visitors and a display of academiccostume.

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Dr. William Stirling, professor of physiology, Dean of theMedical Faculty, and pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Universityof Manchester, has been nominated the delegate to representthe University of Manchester at the quincentenary of theUniversity of Leipsic, which will be celebrated from July 28thto 31st.

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THE Lord Lieutenant for the county of Bedford has signedthe commission of Surgeon-Lieutenant-Colonel Rowland HillCoombs, M.D., 3rd Battalion the Bedfordshire Regiment(Special Reserve), to be his Deputy Lieutenant.

A TELBGRAH from the Governor of Mauritius to the

Secretary of State for the Colonies stated that 2 cases of

plague with 1 death were reported during the week endingTuly 8th.

GUY’S HOSPITAL DENTAL SCHOLARSHIP.-Mr.F. N. Doubleday, L.D.S. R.C.S. Eng., has been awarded theGuy’s Hospital Travelling Scholarship of £100.