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first year to 14,071 kilogrammes, in the years 1904-C6 themortality from malaria fell by about one-half and maintainedits low level in the latter years of serious epidemics. Notwith-standing the manifest efficacy of quinine, as supplied by theState, in a prophylactic sense, yet better results might beobtained throughout the kingdom were certain obstacles toits administration removed-obstacles due (inter alia) topopular ignorance and to the suspicion and the irregular useof the remedy thence arising. Protessor Celli therefore recom-mends : (1) An educative propaganda by means of posters,leaflets, lectures, and conversazioni in the popular dialect ;(2) a demonstrative propaganda illustrating the efficacy of theState-supplied quinine ; (3) a more active and thorough anti-malarial service during the summer and autumn months ; (4) agenuine cooperation of agricultural employers in malaria-haunted regions; (5) a steady, systematic, and abundantsupply of quinine by the State in periods of epidemic ; (6) aprovincial organisation of the anti-malarial campaign withprovincial anti-malarial delegates and inspectors, temporarilyenrolled from the ranks of practitioners specially qualifiedto combat malaria ; (7) and not least important, ener-

getic action on the part of the Government to insure thatthe recommendations above given are not (as so often occursin Italy) "more honoured in the breach than in theobservance." The remainder of Professor Celli’s most

interesting paper is devoted to considerations of purely localinterest, including suggestions applicable not only to theAgro Romano but to all the malaria-haunted regions of Italy,whether on the mainland or in the islands. A " Programmadi Governo" framed on these lines and carried out by theenergetic and intelligent cooperation of all proprietors con-cerned in agricultural industry would go far, in ProfessorCelli’s opinion, and, I may add, in that of other notless ardent hygienic reformers, to bring about Italy’s"Risorgimento Sanitario " and to make an " Italia Irredenta...... dalla Malaria" a thing of the past.

Scarlet Fever in Milan.I had recently occasion to warn the travelling public of

the prevalence of "morbilli infectivi " in Milan. Yesterday’s

Secolo (the most widely circulated, if not the most authorita-tive, of the Milanese journals) calls attention to the fact thatscarlet fever is making its rounds (girante) in the Lombardcapital and it draws a disquieting picture (evidently from acompetent medical pen) of the sequelas consequent on

attacks of the disease. Milan, however, rich and enter-

prising as she is, has only herself to thank for the recurrenceof such "scares." Her water-supply (inter alia) leavesmuch to be desired.Feb.24th.

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NEW YORK.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Prevention of Marriage of the Defective Classes.SEVERAL States have passed stringent laws against the

marriage of epileptics and idiots. Much opposition was atfirst encountered to such legislation and it required years ofeffort to secure any prohibitory law to such marriages, butat length one State passed an Act and the result was so

favourable that others followed the example. A Bill hasnow been introduced into the legislature of the State ofNew York by the managers of the Craig (Epileptic) Colonywhich forbids the marriage of epileptics, idiots, and feeble-minded, and makes it a misdemeanour to aid or to abet suchmarriage. The measure is endorsed by the leading physiciansof the State and will probably become law.

The Nostrum Evil.The evils of the so-called ’’ patent medicines

" are exciting

widespread discussion in the medical profession and two pro-minent lay journals have been carrying on a vigorous campaignagainst them. The extent to which proprietary medicines areprescribed by the profession is estimated to be 50 per cent.One druggist in New York reports that 70 per cent. of the pre-scriptions which come to him are for these remedies. A largepharmacy in Chicago reports that 42 per cent. of the pre-scriptions contain such ingredients and were signed byphysicians of high standing. In Boston one drug storereports that of 14,895 prescriptions received in a year38 per cent. contained proprietary medicines and anotherhad 48 per cent. in 12,000. It is very evident from thesefigures that the great majority of medical men prescribe

these proprietary remedies and are satisfied with the results.It is now the rule that the ordinary practitioner carries in asmall satchel all the medicine he requires and that he findsit a great convenience compared with the practice of makingprescriptions and sending them to unknown druggists, orcarrying bulky drugs and preparing them at the bedside. Itis not probable that the physician of this country will goback and adopt the habits of his forefathers in prescribingmedicines. The remedy for the nostrum evil is thus statedby the legislative council of the American Medical Associa-tion-viz., "All patent or proprietary medicines shall carryan exact formula of their contents plainly printed on eachoriginal package and make the contents conform to theformula." The committee proposes that Congress should passa law excluding from the United States mails all advertisingmatter which fails to comply with the foregoing conditions.

A National Department of Public Health.The occurrence of an epidemic of yellow fever in New

Orleans and the failure of the local authorities to controlit during the last summer, and the final appeal to theNational Government for aid, have renewed the demand foran extension of the powers of the Marine Hospital and PublicHealth Service. The legislative council of the AmericanMedical Association is urging upon Congress the importanceof concentrating in the present Public Health Service all ofthe powers relating to the public now scattered among thedepartments of the Government and the elevation of thatservice to the rank and dignity of the other governmentaldepartments with its chief officer entitled to a position in theCabinet of the President. It is not probable that theserecommendations will receive legislative sanction at thissession of Congress, but there is little doubt that one or twomore visitations of yellow fever will prepare the way for thecreation of a National Department of Public Health worthyof the country.

Organiscztion of a Hospital System for New York City.The mayor of New York has appointed a commission to

report a plan of organising the hospitals of the city-118 innumber-under a competent central authority. At presentthe public hospitals of the Greater City are under thecontrol of three departments, while the ambulance service isdirected by the police. The result is that there is no concertedaction among the hospitals and the sick are often carriedfrom one hospital to another greatly to their detriment.The appointment of this commission will have an import-ant bearing on the plans of the board of Bellevue andallied hospitals. That board contemplates rebuilding thisold hospital on a magnificent scale, the cost of which willexceed the sum of $10,000,000, with accommodation for3000 patients. In the instructions of the mayor to the com-mission he indicates that this project should be consideredand the question as to its propriety should be determined. Itis probable that the commission will propose the creation of adepartment devoted to the supervision of hospitals and thatinstead of expending such an enormous sum on a single hos-pital a large number of emergency hospitals will be recom-mended, properly distributed over the city.

The Cartwright Lectures.This series of lectures is to be delivered this year by Baron

Takaki, Surgeon-General (reserve) of the Japanese Navy.His subject will be Sanitation Experiences of the lateJapanese-Russian War. The distinguished lecturer has onseveral occasions given brief addresses on some phases of hisexperience in the Japanese Navy, the sanitary and medicalsystems of which he reorganised. These lectures have beenfull of interest and it is anticipated that the course ofthree lectures will be replete with instruction, as they willembody full details of the method of reorganising themedical service of the Japanese Navy and copious illustra.tions of the results during the late war.

A Serum for the Cure of Goitre.Much interest has been excited in the profession by the

announcement of a physician connected with the CornellLaboratories that a serum had been discovered which rapidlyeffected relief in exophthalmic goitre. On inquiry at thelaboratories it was learned that a serum had been preparedfrom diseased thyroids of human subjects which had provedremarkably successful in the treatment of severe cases of

goitre. In the case of the wife of one of the professors,who was believed to be in a hopeless condition, the reliefwas rapid after one injection of the serum. Three treat-ments have greatly reduced the swelling and the acute

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symptoms have altogether disappeared. The discoverer, Dr.Rogers, regards the remedy as in an experimental stage butis satisfied that an important step is about to be taken in thetreatment of goitre.

Warren Triennial Prize.The Warren Triennial Prize, which was founded by Dr. J.

Mason Warren in memory of his father and is awarded everythree years, amounts for the year 1907 to$500. The matterfor competition for the year is some special subject inphysiology, surgery, or pathology. The arbitrators are thephysicians and surgeons of the Massachusetts General Hos-pital, and Dr. Herbert B. Howard of Boston, who announcesthe particulars, states that dissertations will be receiveduntil April 14th, 1907. They must be legibly written andsuitably bound. The name of the writer must be inclosedin a sealed envelope, on which must be written a mottocorresponding with one on the dissertation.

Feb. 18th.

NOTES FROM INDIA.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.)

A New Surgical Hospital for Calcutta.A CEREMONY of considerable interest has just been per-

formed at the laying of the foundation-stone of the new

surgical block of the Medical College Hospital, Calcutta,because it was conducted masonically and in the presenceof the Viceroy. The original building was constructed 60years ago in the time of Lord Dalhousie and the foundation-stone was then laid with masonic ritual. The new surgicalblock is based on that of the Betinda Hospital at Vienna. Itis two storeys high but is set upon a raised plinth eight feethigh, as in the case of the European General Hospital inCalcutta, and space exists in the basement for store-roomsand necessary offices. Over the central portion of the build-ing it is proposed to provide quarters for the two resident ’,surgeons and the laboratories. There will be eight mainwards of ten beds each and eight small private rooms, eachcontaining one bed or a total of 88 patients. Marble floor-

ing and dados will be provided throughout the hospital andspecial arrangements will be made to see that the walls arenon-absorbent and washable and that they present no joints,ledges, or rough surfaces where dust can accumulate. Thesanitary fittings will be of the most modern character, therewill be a complete electrical installation, including anelectric lift, and hot and cold water will be laid on toall parts of the building. The cost is estimated atabout Rs. 6,25,000 (say £42,000). It is hoped to establishalso paying wards for Indian patients, to be built onthe cottage hospital plan, and so arranged that the patientswill be able to bring their families with them and to cooktheir own food. It is proposed to establish 20 such privaterooms. It is for this new surgical block that the Prince ofWales recently allotted Rs. 90,000 out of the lakh of rupeesgenerously given by the Maharaja of Dhurbanga. For the

cottage hospital wards considerable subscriptions have alsobeen received. At the conclusion of the ceremony the

Viceroy announced that the new surgical hospital would beknown as the Prince of Wales Hospital.

Small-pox in Calcutta and Rangoon.Just at the present time Calcutta is suffering from a some-

what severe outbreak of small-pox. Cholera is also prevalentand the annual recrudescence of plague is commencing. The

mortality for the next few months will therefore probably behigh. Rangoon is also suffering from small-pox, some 425cases having been reported during January. In this lattercity 2969 cases of plague with 2672 deaths occurred duringthe year-viz., from Feb. 4th, 1905, to Feb. 4th, 1906. This

gives a case mortality of about 90 per cent.Feb. 9th.

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Obituary.WALTER FREDERICK MITCHELL, M.R.C.S. ENG., L.S.A.

Mr. W. F. Mitchell, who died in St. Bartholomew’sHospital on Feb. 19th, might be said to have had a life-long 1

1

association with that institution. He was born there some.53 years ago, his father, the late Rev. Walter Mitchell, 1

having been chaplain or "hospitaller" as the officia

designation is. When he resolved to follow a medicalcareer he naturally received his professional training inSt. Bartholomew’s Hospital and became qualified in 1883,taking the diplomas of L.S.A. in that year and M.R.C.S.Eng.in 1886. Mr. Mitchell at one time held a temporaryappointment in the hospital; his residence was afterwardsin the immediate neighbourhood, and he had a considerablepractice among the residential population of the district.

ALEXANDER HENLEY ATTWATER, M.R.C.S.EN&.Mr. A. H. Attwater died at his residence, Newton-street,

Bampton, Devon, on Feb. 17th, in his eighty-sixth year. The

deceased received his medical education at the Middlesex

Hospital, and after obtaining the diploma of M.R.C.S. Eng.in 1859 he commenced practice in his native town of SouthMolton. He displayed great interest in local matters andwas several times elected mayor of South Molton. In 1860Mr. Attwater removed to Bampton, where he remained inactive practice until 1893, when he retired and since thenhas resided partly at Exeter and partly at Bampton. Mr.Attwater was highly respected in Bampton and the district.He leaves two daughters and three sons to mourn their loss.

Medical News.SOCIETY OF APOTHECARIES OF LONDON.-At

examinations held in February the following candidatespassed in the subjects indicated:-S2arger,y.-W. G. H. Cable (Sections 1. and 11.). London Hospital;M. 0. Dollie (Sections I. and II.), University College Hospital;C. H. J. Fagan (Section I.), St. George’s Hospital; C. W. Gibson,Guy’s Hospital; P. Moxey (Section 1.), Bristol; R. J. S. Verity,Charing Cross Hospital; and A. P. Wright (Sections 1. and IL),Glasgow and Liverpool.

Medicine.—D. L. E. Bolton, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital; T. P.Braim, Leeds; H. S. Burnell-Jones (Section II.), Cardiff, Leeds,and London Hospital; R. C. T. Evans (Section I.), UniversityCollege Hospital; A. J. Hopper (Sections I. and 11.). Durham;P. Moxey (Section I.), Bristol: J. P. B. Snell (Sections 1. and IL),Middlesex Hospital; and M. C. Vivian (Section II.), Royal FreeHospital.

Forensic Medicine.-T. P. Braim, Leeds; J. L. Meynell, LondonHospital; P. Moxey, Bristol; and N. C. Wallis, London Hospital.

Midwifery.-T. P. Braim, Leeds; and N. C. Wallis, London Hos-pital.

The diploma of the Society was granted to the following candidates,entitling them to practise medicine, surgery, and midwifery:-W. G. H.Cable, M. 0. Dollie, C. W. Gibson, J. P. B. Snell, R. J. S. Verity, andM. C. Vivian.

ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS IN IRELAND.-The following candidates having passed the necessary exa-mination have been admitted Fellows of the College :-A. Charles, L.R.C.S. Irel., W. C. Cremin, L.R.C.S. Irel., C. A. Cusack,L.R.C.S. Irel., and T. H. Delany, B.Ch. R.U.I., I.M.S.

The following have passed the primary part of the Fellow-ship examination :-

S. Blake, T. C. Boyd, Miss M. Clarke, J. C. L. Day, F. N. Holden,J. R. D. Holtby, A. E. S. Martin, E. Montgomery, J. Campbell-Murray, K. F. P. Rynd Murray, W. G. Ridgway, G. W. Stanley,and W. M. Woods.

FOREIGN UNIVERSITY INTELLIGENCE.-Berne: Dr. Kolle of the Berlin Institute of InfectiousDiseases has been offered the chair of Hygiene.—Düsseldorf(Academy of Practical -Jledicine) : Dr. Martin Benno Schmidtof Strasburg has been offered the chair of PathologicalAnatomy ; Dr. Ffalz of Diisseldorf that of Ophthalmology ;and Dr. Stern of Dusseldorf that of Dermatology.—Freiburg:Professor Schmorl of Dresden and formerly of Leipsic hasbeen appointed to the chair of Pathological Anatomy vacantby the death of Professor Ziegler.—Giessen: Dr. Ritter "VonTabora has been recognised as privat-docent of Intei7aaMedicine ; Dr. Leutert, Professor of Otology, who had beenoffered the corresponding chair at Konigsberg in successionto Dr. Berthold, has decided to remain in Giessen.-Jenaa Dr. Ernst Mangold has been recognised as privat-doeent of Physiology.—Munich: Professor Czerny of Breslauhas been offered the chair of Children’s Diseases in successionto Professor Rankes.-Rome: Dr. Agostino Carducci hasbeen recognised as privat-docent of Internal Pathology.-St. Petersburg (Military Medical Acadenay) Dr.A.Ignatovskihas been recognised asprivat-docent of Internal Medicine.-