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ROYAL JENNERIAN LONDON VACCINE INSTITUTION.- -On Friday last this institution held its annual meeting atthe Freemasons’ Tavern—W. H. Ashurst, Esq., in the chair.During the year, 7186 vaccinations took place in the institu-tion. Since its opening, in 1806, 241,614 persons had beenvaccinated. A large quantity of lymph was sent to India.The receipts figured X327 12s., and the expenditure left a ba-lance of X8 188.

PBBLIC TESTIMONIAL TO DR. BRANFOOT.-We. arehappy to record a circumstance which must be as gratifying toour profession, as it is honourable to that section of the publicwho are especially concerned. A valuable testimonial hasbeen presented to Dr. Branfoot on his retiring from practiceat Brentwood. The subscription list was headed by LordPetre.

THE ROYAL WILTS MILITIA AND MEDICAL MEN.--A series of lectures are in course of delivery to this body at De-vizes. The introductory lecture was given on the 27th ultimo, byR. J. Foster, Esq., M.D., physician to the Norfolk Countv LunaticAsylum. The address was eloquent, and received with muchapplause. Mr. Oustie, M.R.C.S., lectures on chemistry on the7th of February.

OBITUARY.—At Lowther Street, Carlisle, W. Dalton,M.D.-In London, Francis Snaith, M.D., aged forty-eight, for-merly of Boston.

HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK ENDINGSATURDAY, JANUARY 29.--A thousand and eleven deaths wereregistered in London in the week that ended last Saturday. Thisreturn exhibits a very considerable increase on the previous threeweeks. In the ten corresponding weeks of the years 1843-52,the average number was 1068, which, if raised in proportion toincrease of population, would give a mortality for the presenttime of 1175. The deaths of last week are therefore less thanthe estimated amount by 164. During the month of January themortality has been low for the season, 965 deaths having beenregistered in the first week, and in the subsequent weeks thenumber not having attained or having scarcely exceeded 1000.In the table of fatal causes, the results of last week correspondnearly with those of the preceding, the chief difference being indiseases of the respiratory organs, the cases of which, terminatingfatally, become more frequent. These rose in the two weeksfrom 171 to 199, and in the present return are thus distributed:-5 to laryngitis, 91 to bronchitis, 7 to pleurisy, 71 to pneumonia,19 to asthma, and 7 to pulmonary complaints, not specifically de-

, signated. The corrected average for this class in the ten corre-sponding weeks is 244. Phthisis, which carried off 138 personslast week, exhibits a mortality very near the ordinary amount.Epidemic diseases do not discover any remarkable feature.Typhus numbers 50 deaths, the largest contribution to the mor- i

tality of this class; scarlatina 43, hooping-cough 40, measles 12,small-pox 4, diarrhoea 21, rheumatic fever 4, infantile remittantfever 2, purpura 2, influenza 1.

Last week the births of 902 boys and 810 girls, in all 1712children, were registered in London. In the eight correspondingweeks of the years 1845-52 the average number was 1440.At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean height of the

barometer in the week was 29750 in.; the mean daily reading onMonday was 30’022 in. The mean temperature of the week was37.7°, which is about the average of the same week in thirty-eightyears. The mean daily temperature was on Sunday 38.6°, afterwhich it steadily declined till Thursday, when it was 360, or 1.3°below the average. It rose on the two following days to 39’20and 38’40. The wind blew generally from the north-east. Themean dew point temperature was 31’8°.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

"THE BRITISH MEDICAL DIRECTORY."

THE Editors of this work have requested us to state that theydeeply regret that the publication of the DIRECTORY hasbeen delayed. Although many thousand members of theprofession made the requisite "returns" with an obliging andpraiseworthy promptitude, yet the neglect of some three orfour hundred practitioners involved the Editors in a corre-spondence, which, for extent, tediousness, and difficulty,they were not at all prepared. They, however, express a

confident hope that the utility and completeness of thework will more than compensate for the delay that hastaken place. Within a very brief period the professionwill have an opportunity of forming their own opinions onthe subject. The Editors inform us that the concludingportion of the manuscript was delivered to the printer onMonday last.

Sulphur Prœcipitatum.-The pirate’s cargo of brimstone has turned out abad speculation; the public, suspecting it was contraband, would notbecome purchasers. It therefore remains on hand as useless lumber.There is no fear of its blowing up; it is not explosive; it is not of thetrue volcanic kind; and there is no saltpetre on board to give it life.Whether it be committed to the flames, and thus be sublimated, orwhether its dead weight may ultimately precipitate the sinking of thepiratical craft, for the third time, is a matter of small concern.

A Rusticated Pupil.-The curriculum must be followed. Entrance to thesummer courses would not save a winter course.

The Honorary Secretary of the bleclicaL Benevolent Fund.-Our space willnot permit the insertion of more than a paragraph. If such be sent weshall have much pleasure in giving it a place in our columns.

ELor.—The time is not fixed. It will be announced in the columns of THELANCET. The fee is ten guineas for a candidate not a member of the

’ College. The general examination, we believe, is not affected by it. We’ advise our correspondent not to present himself at present. Some altera.

tion must be made in the law. It confers no honour unless accompaniedby a diploma, and does not entitle to practise in a medical case.

A Sufferer.—Many persons labour under the symptoms enumerated frommere disorder of the digestive functions. We do not give advice in ourcolumns. Medical aid is always obtainable in the metropolis, even bythe poorest.

.4 Student.-The Students’number of THE LANCET contains the information

required.J. B.-We hope our correspondent has by this time had a communicationfrom the proper quarter. We have been assured that his just complaintshall receive attention. It would gratify us to know the result.

B. and Co.-The greengages, the results of the analysis of which weregiven in a recent report, were taken from small round boxes, and notfrom larger samples.

Bromptoniensis.—The fee mentioned is higher than what is usually de-manded ; but it is very difficult to give a satisfactory answer to a questionso proposed. Many circumstances must be taken into account in suchcases ; for example, the reputation of the practitioner, the custom of theneighbourhood, and the nature of the malady. All these things are ingre.dients which enter into such a question as the one propounded by ourcorrespondent. He has not even stated whether it was a medical or sur-

gical case; if it was the former, he would not be able to recover hischarge.

RESPECTABILITY OF THE PROFESSION.To the Editor of THE LANCET.

SIR,-I enclose vou an advertisement taken from a provincial paper,which speaks for itself, and I fear shows that the advertisers have therespectability" of the profession very little at heart.

I am, Sir, yours respectfully,Feb. 1853. A WELL-WISHER TO THE PROFESSION.

"Wanted immediately, two respectable and well-educated youths, asapprentices to the Sunderland Infirmary.-Apply to the House-Surgeon.

" Infirmary, Jan. 19, 1853."

0. P. Q.—l. Yes.-2. Yes.-3. Most probably.M.R.C.S.-Provided our correspondent was solicited by a number of the

inhabitants of the town, there would be no objection in offering himselfas a candidate for the appointment.

IN consequence of the great press of matter, we are compelled to postpone,until next week, many important papers already in type.

COMMUNICATIONS, LETTERS, &c., have been received from- Dr. Marshall

Hall; Dr. Forbes Winslow; Dr. Letheby; Ebor, (York;) Mr. Reeves,(Carlisle;) Dr. R. F. Foote; Dr. F. J. Brown, (Chatham;) A RetiredArmy Surgeon; Medicus, (Herts,) Alter Ego; Chirurgt2s; A ThirdYear’s Student, (St. Bartholomew’s;) Mr. T. Walker, (Brailes ;) Dr.Wheelwright, (Kensington;) Horl. Secretary of Epidemiological Society;A Well.wisherto the Profession; Mr. P. J. Martin, (Pulborough;) Mr.Russell Hall; Nemo; Dr. Richard Rowland; Bromptoniensis; M.R.C.S.;Mr. Squire; Mr. George Ree ; Mr. W. D. West, (Brentwood;) 0. P. Q.;Dr. G. Parker May, (Maldon;) A Subscriber of Twenty Years; An OldSurgeon, (Tower-hill;) M.D., (Bristol;) A Rusticated Pupil; A Sufferer;The Honorary Secretary of the Medical Benevolent Fund; A Student;J. B. ; B. and Co. ; Sulphur Prsecipitatum; Mr. E. Govett; Mr. E. T.Sinclair; Mr. T. Stuart; Mr. T. Westropp; Mr. Gay; Mr. Murray,(with enclosure;) Mr. J. H. Kearney, (Tramore, with enclosure;)Mr. S. T. Chadwick, (Bolton, with enclosure;) ;) Mr. J. Graham, (Girvan,with enclosure;) Queen’s College, Belfast, (with enclosure ;) Dr. Hunter,(Glasgow, with enclosure ;) Mr. J. E.’ Jennings, (Coleford, with enclo-sure ;) Dr. A. Thomson, (Glasgow, with enclosure;) Dr. H. F. Carter,(Shoreham, with enclosure;) Dr. Hearne, (Southampton, with enclosure;)

) &c. &c.