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FLEET DITCH. -This monster nuisance, extending itsfull breadth, and a hundred yards long, is left open day andnight in Saffron-hill, to the danger of the health of the crowdedand poor neighbourhood, without the slightest attempt toabate it, although the comparatively wealthy inhabitants ofCrescent-place, Blackfriars, are up in arms because there is anopening there from the ditch not more than three feet long. Itis presumed that some wealthy alderman must be killed by itbefore the horrible trench will be closed.

THE LATE DR. CHARLESWORTH.-The execution of thestatue of Dr. Charlesworth, to be erected in the Lincoln Asylum,has been entrusted to the able sculptor, Mr. Milnes, of Judd-place, Euston-square. The model is eminently successful.NEWCASTLE COLLEGE OF MEDICINE. - The Winter

session of this College opened on Monday, when an intro-

ductory address was delivered by Dr. Charlton. Dr. Headlam presided, and in the course of his observations mentioned thegratifying fact that every student in that institution hadpassed his examination in London with credit to himself; atDurham also their success had been marked and decided.

OBITUARY.-At Bath, SAMUEL LEEDSAW, Esq., formerlyof the Bengal Medical establishment; - HARVEY, Esq., latesurgeon in H.M. 70th; - HARRIS, Esq., late surgeon in theIst West India Regiment.HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK ENDING

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29.-The number of deaths from allcauses registered in the week that ended on Saturday was1144, exhibiting an increase of about a hundred on the firstthree weeks of October. In ten corresponding weeks of theyears 1843-52 the average number was 974, which, if raised inproportion to the increase of population, becomes 1071. Thereis therefore an excess of 73 in the present return on the cor-rected average, arising chiefly from the epidemic, whoseprogress has been recorded during the last two months,and which has now attacked many parts of the metropolis,widely distant, as Hammersmith and Whitechapel. Thedeaths from cholera, which were about 16 weekly in thebeginning of September, rose last week to 96. Fifty-fourmales and 42 females sunk under the disease; 32 died under15 years of age, 49 between 15 and 60 years, and 15 at 60years and upwards. The 96 deaths occurred in the five

metropolitan divisions as follows:-In the West Districts, 16;in the North, 3; in the Central, 1; in the East, 24; on theSouth side of the Thames, 52.Last week the births of 817 boys and 800 girls, in all 1617

children, were registered in London. The average number ineight corresponding weeks of the years 1845---52 was 1400.At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of

the barometer in the week was 29 ’690 in. The mean tempera-ture was 55. 5°, which is 7.7° above the average of the sameweek in 38 years.

THE BRITISH MEDICAL DIRECTORYfor 1854.

THE editors of this work have requested us to remind betweentwo and three hundred legally-qualified medical practitionersresiding in England, Wales, and Scotland, that they have notyet made their " returns for this Directory for the ensuingyear. The editors express their warmest gratitude for the

prompt responses which have been made to their appeals bynearly the entire body of the profession; but they complaingreatly, and we think with justice, of the manner in whichtheir labours are obstructed by the negligence, or thought-lessness of between two and three hundred of their pro-fessional brethren. When it is considered that the BRITISHMEDICAL DIRECTORY has excluded from the observation ofthe public the titles and distinctions of the audacious quacks,- that the work has been most elaborately and expensivelygot up,-that the charge for it, embracing as it does the namesof the practitioners of England, Wales, and Scotland, isSix Shillings, being only a trifle more than one-half ofthe sum charged for the London and Provincial Medical

Directory,-and that also a moiety of the profits arising fromthe sale of THE BRITISH MEDICAL DIRECTORY is to 56 handedover to Mr. PROPERT f0T the purpose of being added to thefuncdsof the MEDICAL BENEVOLENT COLLEGE,-We cannot believe thatany respectable medical practitioner in the British dominionsregards with indifference the compilation, the unequivocalsuccess, and the universal circulation of such a work. We trusttherefore that the present defaulters will not require anotherword to be addressed to them on the subject of their neglect,as they must know that all the " returns" should have beenmade before this period.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A Surgeon, (Bucks.)-l. A midwifery fee may be recovered at law, although the medical attendant does not possess the licence of the Society of Apothe-caries.-2. Yes, for death ; not for vaccination. - 3. It has been repeatedlystated in this journal, that to practise as an apothecary it is necessary forthe person " to attend, prescribe, and dispense medicine in a medical case."It is of no moment what designation he gives himself, nor whether lieprofesses to charge for visits and attendance only, and not for medicines.Such a proceeding would be clearly an attempt to evade the Act, and wouldnot succeed in a court of law. Even in cases in which the practitionerorders his medicines to be sent from a druggist, he does not free himself fromthe liability to an action for penalties.

NECESSITY roR A CORONER’S COURT IN SCOTLAND.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-The want of a Coroner’s Court in Scotland is a bar in the way to muchimportant information. A lady from Forfarshire lately died in Edinburghsuddenly, from chloroform it is whispered, while under some simple obstetricmanipulation, Can any of your Forfarshire correspondents give the facts ? ?

I am, Sir, your obedient servant,November, 1853. ENQUIRER.

An Old Stbscriber.-1. There is no medical college or establishment in Hobart, Town, or any of the British possessions in Kew South Wales, which grants

degrees.-2. We could not advise a second year’s student to take the medi-cal charge of the crew of an emigrant ship.

A Surgeon.-Was the remark you mention niac’te by the little blockhead whileMr. C. was present ? If the little fellow does not keep a civil tongue in hi-head, a lash or two will be bestowed upon him that he will not soon forget.