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The committee repeat emphatically that this home existsin the interest of no medical man or men, unless perhaps41 only in the imagination " of some distorted mind. Itexists in response to a long-felt and sore need, which need itstrives with some success to fill. With regard to the restof your article doubtless the other charities mentioned willhave their own remarks to make. It is much to be regretted4hat your representative did not choose more wisely hisinformant. That informant would do well to study certainlines of the late Lord Tennyson concerning something 11 thatis half a truth." Signed on behalf of the committee.

Mareh 3Lst, 1.898.

SUSANNAH BOTTOMLEY,President.HELEN P. RABAGLIATI,Hon. Secretary.

NOTES FROM INDIA.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

I’ke Plague.A PRECONCERTED riot by the Mohammedans in Bombay

against all Europeans was precipitated by a local opposi-tion to a search party on Wednesday morning, Marchth. The fanatical rising spread rapidly throughout thecity and for two or three hours until the militaryarrived no European was safe in the streets. Wantonand cowardly attacks on defenceless European men

and women occurred in’ differents parts of the city.The disturbances were attended by the deaths ofseveral Europeans and a large number of natives. Thewhole work of the Plague Committee was practicallysuspended for the day. Large search parties with adequatemilitary protection have, however, since examined the dis-turbed quarters and numerous cases of plague have beendiscovered in addition to many of the wounded rioter whohad hidden themselves away. It will be realised that theEuropean medical officers as well as the nurses are carryingon their already dangerous duties under great risk of personalinjuries. It is intended that the measures hitherto adoptedahall be continued, but the search parties will for the futurebe protected by detachments of soldiers.The daily records of plague have for the present been

entirely upset, but those to hand unfortunately show thatit continues as rife as ever and that the total mortality:.averages over 300 a day-a rate of 136 per 1000 perannum.

Some attempt has been made to improve the system ofdeath certification in consequence of from 60 to 70 deathsbeing recorded daily which have escaped all observation ofhe Plague Committee.As any interference with a body after death is contrary to

the religious feelings of both Hindoos and Mohammedans,and as the masses of these people rely solely on their owndomestic remedies and seldom seek the medical advice of-even their own hakims, efeorts have been made to get thedeaders of the different castes to appoint reliable personswho will be able to give a fairly satisfactory account of thecauses of death, so that, as far as possible, every sick person- shall come under observation. A misinterpretation of these- efforts is said to have accounted for much of the presentdisturbance.An important proposal is made by Dr. Thomas Blaney of

Bombay. It is that a conference or congress of the medicalprofession in India should be called in Bombay city for nextDecember, having for its main object the consideration of themost appropriate measures for dealing with plague epidemicsin Indian cities, towns, and villages. As the value ofquarantine compared to its destructive influence on trade isquestioned, and as many of the other measures adopted arealso of questionable value, a conference of this kind mightprove of considerable assistance to the Indian Governmentin their arrangements for future outbreaks. Several cases<!)f small-pox of a very severe type are being sent daily intothe fever hospital.

In the Punjab the plague seems to be spreading-26villages in two of the districts having been infected. Thereis no knowing how many more of the surrounding villageshave caught the infection. In other places it seems to bedying out.March 19th

LIVERPOOL.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Mersey Port Sanitary Authority.DR. HOPE, the medical officer of health of the city and

port of Liverpool, in his report for 1897 to the port sanitaryauthority stated that during the year, owing to theexistence of plague in India and small-pox in some Spanishports, both of the assistant medical officers of healthwere constantly engaged in the tidal inspection of shipsfrom the beginning of April. The work of those gentlemenhad been carried on in conjunction with the officers ofcustoms, who are the first to receive intimation ofsickness on board any vessel approaching the port,either by telegraph from Point Lynas or from Movilleor Queenstown. It is recorded that not only were

fewer defects per vessel examined found, but thatthe number of notices served upon owners under thePublic Health Act had been only about half the numberserved in the preceding year, indicating a readiness to

comply with the requests made by the inspectors. Thisresult may have been probably due to the fact that many ofthe vessels had been examined before and that matters

requiring attention had been already remedied. During theyear the inspectors visited 5775 vessels ; 87,414 emigrantsleft the Mersey during the year, as against 98,271 in theprevious year.

-Deat7t of Mr. James Johnson, M. R. C. S. E’ng., S.A.,of Bootle.

Mr. James JobnEon, who formerly practised in the

neighbourhood of Liverpool, died at Breezehill, Bootle, onthe 2nd inst. in his eighty-seventh year. Mr. Johnson, whoretired from practice in 1872 and was consequently but littleknown to the present generation of Liverpool practitioners,was in his time a foremost figure in medical circles and inLiverpool and county society. He was a native of the north ofIreland and soon after settling in Liverpool he was appointedsurgeon to the Kirkdale Gaol, a post at that time in the giftof the county justices. He resigned that office in 1872. Fora number of years he regularly attended the meetingsof the county justices in order to present his report on thesanitary condition of the gaol and the health of theprisoners. The late Earl of Derby, Lord Cross, &c., placedgreat confidence in Mr. Johnson’s judgment, his suggestionsbeing invariably acted upon.

Ladies’ Charity and Lying-iaz Hospital.Dr. Arthur J. Wallace has been appointed hospital

medical officer to the Ladies’ Charity and Lying-in Hospital,vice Dr. Glynn Whittle, whose term of office has expired.Dr. Wallace is also one of the anaesthetists to the LiverpoolRoyal Infirmary.April 4th.

____

SCOTLAND.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

University of Aberdeen.THE graduation ceremony in the Mitchell Hall, Marischal

College, on the lst inst. was notable in respect that for thefirst time in the history of the University there were womengraduates, four ladies receiving the degree of M.A. Asremarked by Principal Sir William Geddes, lady studentshad specially distinguished themselves last session, as

shown by the class prize lists. He further mentionedthat Lady Geddes is successfully promoting a schemefor a residential hall for women students. The degreeof D.Litt. was also conferred for the first time, thesole recipient being Mr. James Moir, LL.D., one ofthe joint-rectors of Aberdeen Grammar School. The degreeof M.D. was conferred in ten cases, that of M.B., Ch.B.(new ordinances) in twenty-six, and that of M.B., C.M.,(old ordinances) in seven cases. Among those who receivedthe honorary degree of LL D. waq Mr. Charles Chree, M.A.,So.D., Superintendent of Few Obssrvatory, Richmond. Awell-attended and succes ul &laquo; reception" took place inMarischal College on the same evening. There were twenty-four entrants at the recent medical pre iminary examination.

April 4th.