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that they may be derived from cereals, especiallywheat.Our knowledge of the nature of these circulating

toxins is much in the same position as in the case ofurticaria, in which Sir THOMAS LEWIS has convincinglydemonstrated the potency of histamine and histamine-like bodies, injected locally, in producing an eruptionclinically indistinguishable from nettle-rash. It isnot unlikely that the toxins responsible for urticariaand solar dermatitis may have a close molecular

affinity, for a solar rash may be urticarial and nettle-rash may be papular and even vesicular, especially inthe child. Present opinion favours the view that thereis not one, but a series of protein molecules whichpossess the faculty of over-sensitising the skin to thenormal stimulus of the sun, and until the biochemistsucceeds in isolating or elucidating the metabolicorigin of these toxins, our therapeutic measures willcontinue to be empirical. Moreover, responsibilityfor the reflex has not been fastened on any particularlight rays. Last year at the Paris Medical Society 1VALLERY-RADOT and others showed a sun-sensitiveperson, who had responded with an urticarial type oferuption for over 20 years. His reaction was strictly i

proportional to the intensity of the solar exposure ;under ordinary conditions an eruption supervened fiveminutes after exposure, attained its maximum in oneminute, and vanished within half an hour. With acarbon-arc (polymetallique) lamp consuming 30amperes at 50 cm. distance a similar effect was pro-duced in two minutes. A powerful incandescent lampfurnished with a reflector and working at a distanceof 40 cm. produced the reaction in nine minutes, butexposure to the mercury-vapour lamp or to infra-redrays was found to be entirely innocuous, and theauthors were able to achieve some degree of improve-ment in the disability by subjecting the patient toprogressive doses, first of ultra-violet and later of

daylight itself. This experience, if confirmed, wouldinvalidate the view that the ultra-violet rays are more

potent than other parts of the spectrum in eliciting anabnormal response. Heat rays seem to play some partin the mechanism of production, and that there maybe a group of rays as yet unidentified, between theultra-violet and red parts of the spectrum, whichare more potent in this respect than either.

SMALL-POX: THE FRENCH RESTRICTIONS.WE published last week some notes upon the present

incidence of small-pox at home and abroad, stressingthe effect upon the public mind which the possibledistribution of nearly 1500 contacts from the 1’1lscaniawould necessarily have in this country. Details havebeen given now showing that, in spite of the extra-ordinarily favourable opportunity offered for the

development of a widespread infection in a closedcommunity on shipboard, only some 44 cases (withseven deaths) had occurred as a result of the case

originally taken on board in Bombay, a seaman whowas disembarked fatally ill from the disease atMarseilles. The whole situation was viewed in Francewith great apprehension, and, as that country reliesfor protection against small-pox upon universalcompulsory vaccination to which no popular resistanceis ever offered, it was logical that the French Govern-ment should propose, and in some places should exact,that no passenger from England who was not preparedwith evidence of recent vaccination should be admittedto the country. But a conference between the British

1 Bull. Soc. Méd. de Paris, July 5th, 1928, pp. 1122-1125.

and French authorities has since been held at whichthe weakness, as a preventive measure, of theproduction of vaccination certificates was recognisedon both sides, and, after the discussion of fourvarying proposals, machinery has been evolved underwhich, while Article 42 of the International SanitaryConvention, 1926, is followed, the British system ofsurveillance is also to be observed. An announcementfrom the Southern Railway states that until furthernotice passengers landing in France and not possessinga vaccination certificate " not less than ten days andnot more than five years old " will require to fill upa sanitary passport-a yellow cardboard form to beobtained en route, when they will be kept underobservation in France for 14 days if necessary, butpassengers merely passing through France will

experience no difficulty. Passengers who have beenvaccinated within the required period will be given areceipt for their certificate of vaccination and forthem no special or

"

health-passport " will be required.

Others will retain part of the yellow form and willhave to report themselves to the health office or

naairie of the locality to which they go, and they willbe unable to leave that locality within 14 dayswithout notifying the authorities. It will be apparentthat such a wide-reaching organisation as this willentail great trouble upon the French administration,for in effect the machinery is set in action against anundifferentiated population which is only employedin Great Britain upon a limited number of personswho have actually been in contact with the disease.But it must be remembered that the attitude of theFrench, as a properly vaccinated nation, is a perfectlycorrect one-how correct will be seen from the wordsof our Paris Correspondent this week. In Francereliance is placed upon vaccination to preventsmall-pox, and the French statistics prove that theirreliance is justified. Their observations indicate thatsuch cases of small-pox as occur are introduced fromwithout, the sources of infection being derived fromcountries where the regulations for vaccination areless strictly observed. Having this situation in viewthe first impulse of the French authorities was toensure that those coming to France should do asFrance does ; but a closer consideration of the circum-stances has convinced the French authorities that thecompulsory vaccination of all incomers would notcompass their objects, and it has now been decided,with infinite trouble to those authorities, that theBritish system of surveillance should be employed inlieu of compulsory vaccination.

In the meantime it would appear that the measureof the risk run by the British community through thedistribution of contacts from the Tuscania has beentaken. Notifications to local sanitary authoritiesshould ensure the safety of the population, althoughan occurrence, which we report from Acton, revealshow ignorance may lead individual citizens to withholdfrom the sanitary authorities the informationnecessary for the accomplishment of public duties.Of 28 cases reported in England, 7 were from theMetropolis, 6 from Outer London, 7 from the Northand 8 from the South; 13 of the Scottish cases

occurred in Glasgow, 1 in Aberdeen. The date onwhich the last London case sickened was April 7th.

DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS.-The third Earl ofDurham left &pound; 1000 each to the Durham County Hospitaland tie Gateshead Dispensary.-The first Baron Hollendenleft &pound; 8000 to charities, including &pound; 1000 each to St. ]3artho-lomew’s Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital, Plaistow, and&pound; 500 to the Seaside Convalescent Home for Children, Birch-ington, Kent.-Mrs. Eleanor Barrett Palmer, of MaristonHouse, Newbury, amongst other benefactions, left &pound; 500each to the Helena Nursing Home, Reading ; the Hospitalfor Incurables, Putney; the Royal Berkshire Hospital,and the Children’s Cottage Hospital, Cold Ash, Newbury.-Mr. John Henderson, of Glen Tower, Kelvinnore, Glasgow,left 21000 each to the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, and theRoyal Infirmary, Glasgow ; and <8500 each to the VictoriaInfirmary, Glasgow, and the Royal Hospital for SickChildren, Glasgow.