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established 46 local housing committees for educationalpropaganda along the lines determined. The samenumber of this journal announces that the Universityof Wisconsin is now offering a course in City Planningand Housing. The course will deal with (1) CityPlanning; (2) the Housing Problem in General;(3) Industrial Housing ; (4) Parks and Playgrounds. Itis to be conducted by Professor Leonard S. Smith.

01l’rselves-as Others See Us.

It is a salutary exercise to read an American’scriticism of our own housing problem and of our

methods of dealing with it. The opportunity is givenby Mr. F. T. Miller in a pamphlet just published.3 Someof the criticisms are undoubtedly deserved, though wedoubt if Mr. Miller has quite realised how large is theproblem with which this country has to deal. Some ofthe criticisms, as, for example, that precious time hasbeen lost in " discussion of substitutes for unavailablebuilding materials " appear to us to be unfounded.The two most important, however, are worthy of someconsideration. It is said that after subsidising thetenant we have now by the Act of 1919 instituted apolicy of subsidising the producer. Mr. Miller holdsthat it is only by subsidising the owner that a properimpetus will be given to private enterprise. He hasapparently overlooked the fact that under the presentlaw any private house of the required specificationsbuilt before Dec. 23rd, 1920, will receive the fullGovernment subsidy, and that by this arrangement theowner of the house pays £180 less to the builder thanhe would otherwise have to pay. We grant that thisis only temporary legislation, and it may be that awider and more permanent scheme is desirable. Wesee, however, an objection to the use of Mr. Miller’sincentive of " unearned increment " to tempt theprivate owner ; for unearned increment is most readilyacquired on the margins of large cities.Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A., June 10th.

SCOTLAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Scottish Hospital and Nursing Services.

THE Scottish National Health Insurance Commis-sioners’ report on the hospital and nursing services inScotland has just been issued. It states that the lackof accommodation in voluntary hospitals is mainlysurgical, but that it also extends to convalescent treat-ment, epilepsy, neurasthenia, paralysis, chronic diseasesof the heart and respiratory organs, and incurablediseases generally. Many of the smaller hospitals arebadly equipped with modern appliances. In hospitalscontrolled by the local authorities more accommodationis needed for cases of tuberculosis, for infectiousdiseases in certain thickly populated parts, andfor mental cases. There is no evidence that theincome of voluntary hospitals is diminishing, butit does not grow in amount sufficient to meetthe increased calls. There is need for the greatesteconomy in utilising and extending the presenthospital services. For convalescents and chronic casesuse might be made of holiday homes, at present openonly during the summer months, and possibly also ofsome of the auxiliary hospitals at present in existence.The Commissioners draw attention to the present casualrelationship between the general and special hospitals,and suggest greater cooperation ; they also draw atten-tion to the waste entailed by several hospitals in a

centre making separate appeals to the public, insteadof combining their efforts. The report pays a tributeto the valuable nursing services rendered, but suggeststhat the time has come for reorganising in order toobtain- better conditions for those engaged in the work,and still further to improve its efficiency.

Small-pox Epidemic ,in Glasgow.The outbreak of small-pox in Glasgow as yet shows

no signs of abating, and fresh cases are still being reported daily. The disease, however, does not appear ’r3 The Housing Situation in England and the United States, by

F. T. Miller. F. W. Dodge Company, New York. 1920.

to be spreading with any increase of rapidity, as thenumber of fresh notifications remains about the same-namely, four to six per day. Since its commencementthe epidemic has been almost entirely confined toGlasgow, an occasional case only having been seen inother districts. The danger period, however, is justapproaching, when the people of Glasgow enjoy theirterm of holiday. It is customary for them to go inlarge numbers not only to the West Coast seasideresorts but to many places farther afield, particularlyto Fifeshire and to Midlothian. It seems not unreason-able, therefore, to fear that the holiday period may beaccompanied by a much greater dissemination of thedisease than has hitherto been witnessed.

Edinbzcrgh Royal Infirmary.The great campaign to raise funds for the mainten-

ance and improvement of the Royal Infirmary has beenmost energetically carried out during the last fewweeks, and the organisation of the appeal certainlyreflects great credit upon those undertaking its direc-tion. No effort has been spared to bring it beforepublic notice and to make it a success. The first list ofsubscriptions, amounting to just over £50,000; bearswitness to the many functions which have been pro-moted in its aid, and to the cosmopolitan nature ofthose who are endeavouring to render assistance.The remarkable demonstration which took place onMay 22nd in Edinburgh and throughout 17 Scottishcounties showed the complete unity of all classesin supporting the Royal Infirmary. The Edinburghdemonstration took the form of a grand parade, whichcommenced from the King’s Park at 6 P.M. andtraversed all the principal routes of the city. Theprocession was several miles in length and tookabout an hour and a half to pass any fixed point.It was certainly one of the largest-if not thelargest and most representative-of all demonstrationswhich have ever been held in Scotland. A gratifyingfeature was the universal response made by the varioustrade organisations, friendly societies, and other similarbodies. It was apparent to everyone that an immenseamount of trouble had been taken by those participatingto ensure the success of the parade. Every tradecarried suitable emblems which indicated the particularoccupation of the bearers. Many lorries and other con-veyances were decorated in comic style and gave riseto much amusement. Prominent among these wererepresentations of patients in bed in typical infirmarygarb, X ray apparatus, and various hospital depart-ments and laboratories. The work of the students wasmuch in evidence, and many of their societies, theOfficers’ Training Corps, and numerous bands also tookpart. There were a large number of collectors in fancydress, and the immense crowds of onlookers lining thestreets responded in a liberal manner. The unanimityof all classes, and their enthusiasm, provided a

remarkable tribute to the high esteem with which thework of the Royal Infirmary is regarded by the publicof Scotland. In the course of this month a specialappeal has been sent to every householder in Edinburgh,and it is hoped for a liberal response. The sum requiredin all is a large one- £250,000-and its attainment isessential if the institution is to be kept efficient andup-to-date.June 29th.

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PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

A National Instititte of Hygiene..’ THE creation of a Ministere de 1’Hygiene et de laPrévoyance Sociale by the present Government hasbrought with it the establishment in Paris of a vastnational Institute of Hygiene, which will cooperate withthe administrative side of the Ministry in the technicalorganisation of research work, the propagation of know-ledge, and the appointment of officials. The Academyof Medicine has been consulted on these great projects,which have already occasioned much dissension in itsranks. M. Leon Bernard, professor of hygiene at theFaculté of Paris, has submitted to a committee the text