copy of the regulations had been served on the premises, requiring the owner to periodically cleanse the houses, to keep them in a wholesome state, to provide proper privy accommodation, and to prevent overcrowding. That the water-closets were structurally defective, the rooms and staircases dirty, and that there was overcrowding in the back room of No. 42. The inspector stated that there had been forty or fifty cases of fever in these houses since October last, twenty of which had been fatal. Mr. Woolrych fined the defendant 27. and 2s. costs, and adjourned the other cases for twenty-eight days, to have the necessary works carried on and the overcrowding abated. He said that one might commiserate the condition of these poor people, but there were paramount considerations of public health for which the vestry were empowered to make regulations, and perform a work which they seem to have done with great care and disinterestedness,' and were, therefore, entitled to have the law enforced.

It is somewhat singular that although all the metropolitan sanitary authorities are empowered to make similar regulations to those under which the Chelsea Vestry took these proceedings, yet comparatively few have done so. This is the more to be wondered at because a neglect to carry out the orders of the local authority under the Nuisances Removal Act does not entail a penalty until after an order has been also obtained from a magistrate requiring the works to be done, whilst under these regulations a default in complying with them entails a penalty of not more than 40s. in each case, with an additional penalty not exceeding 20s, for every day during which such default may continue. And also, by the 36th section, if two convictions shall have taken place within a period of three months for overcrowding, the magistrate may order the premises to be closed. These most important provisions are so rarely put in force, that most owners of property are not aware of their existence, which is the more to be regretted as the frightful fever dens such as these that exist in so many parts of the metropolis could more readily be dealt with under these regulations than in any other way. It is true that before they become of any validity they must be approved by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and that they are by no means uniform for all the parishes and districts in which they are carried out; but these are slight matters compared with the enormous advantages that must accrue to any place in which they are habitually enforced. We have called especial attention to this case in the hope that those vestries and boards that have not prepared and obtained regulations may do so, and that those which have already obtained the necessary sanction may more frequently put them in force than they appear to have done, as we very rarely indeed hear of any proceedings of this kind being successfully instituted.

Special Report.

THE ARCTIC COMMISSION. THE following documents, showing the sledge dietaries of the recent Arctic Expedition, and the weights pulled by the Northern Sledging Expedition, together with the comments of the Director-General, Sir Alexander Armstrong, will be read with interest at the present time, in connexion with the conclusions arrived at by the recent Arctic Committee of Inquiry:

Captain Markham's party, after the support sledges left them, had to drag three sledges with only two crews. One was weighted 227 lbs. for 12 men out of the 15, the second was weighted 232 lbs. for 7 men out of the 15, and the third was weighted 216 lbs. for 8 men out of the 15. Lieutenant Aldrich's party had to drag each 241 lbs. with 7 men. (3275 e); Lieutenant Beaumont's party had lighter sledge loads; the heaviest weight each man had to drag was 226 lbs.

The support-sledges used later in the season had much lighter sledges to drag, and were consequently able to carry extra comforts.

I have, etc.,
G. S. NARES, Captain R.N.,
Commanding Arctic Expedition.

Admiral Geo. Elliot,

Commander-in-Chief.

REPORT OF MEDICAL DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF NAVY ON THAT OF CAPTAIN NARES

OF NOVEMBER 10, 1876.

This report would appear to be confirmatory of the opinion I expressed to their lordships in my report of the 15th instant, touching the question of, and the effect produced by, over-taxing the physical powers of the men, and depriving them of lime-juice. Regarding the diet list, I consider it suitable for the particular service, with this exception, that it would, in my opinion, have been more judicious to have so far modified the weight of the sledges by slightly reducing the quantity of some of the articles, particularly that of sugar and rum, or indeed to have

DIET LIST, ETC.

neither of them being articles of absolute necessity in Polar travelling (except perhaps a small quantity

Increased in some cases to 6 ozs., at request, in lieu of pemmican.

+ Double allowance of tea was carried in lieu of rum.

EXTRACT FROM REMARKS.

Remarks accompanying a Nosological Return of the Sick and Wounded of H.M.S. Discovery, between April 1, 1875, and June 30, 1876, employed on Arctic Service.

Causes.-The case of Shepherd, who was attacked in January, was evidently caused by the absence of light, fresh meat, and vegetables, and the cold, impure air, and moisture incidental to an Arctic winter, acting upon a constitution debilitated by indulgence in excessive drinking, added to his wilful neglect of the sanitary arrangements, and surreptitiously abstaining from the fresh beef, preserved meat, and vegetables, whenever he found the opportunity.

As regards the remaining fifteen cases, they have all occurred in men on sledge journey, with whom, in addition to the usual incitants to scurvy-viz., absence of light, fresh meat and vegetables, and the presence of cold, impure air and moisture-the excessive fatigue consequent upon dragging a heavy sledge through deep soft snow, or having to smooth a road through heavy ice hummocks, monotonous and depressing nature of the work, sameness of diet, total absence of fresh food (excepting pemmican), and the necessary exposure to cold and wet, have in my opinion been quite sufficient to account for the present outbreak. BELGRAVE NINNIS, M.D., Staff-Surgeon.

Medical Officers' Reports.

DERBY.-The medical officer of health, in his quarterly report issued on the 30th Dec., says there have been between forty and fifty cases of small-pox since July 27, the date of the reception of the first case into the Derbyshire Infirmary. Out of this number only two deaths have taken place, and these were unvaccinated persons. The disease was imported from Liverpool into Derby in the person of Lillie Taylor, aged 14, who was taken to the infirmary.

HEALTH OF WESTMINSTER.-The annual report of Dr. Barnard Holt, the medical officer of the Westminster district, states that so far as the death-rate was concerned it might be considered a very satisfactory report, showing as it did a decrease amounting to 136 deaths less than last year. An examination of the zymotic table, however, showed that scarlet fever, whooping-cough, measles, and diarrhea had been very prevalent, and exceeded the numbers given in the previous year; the cases of fever were less, and there had not been any death from small-pox. There had been 1,952 births registered, and 1,674 deaths; of the last number 108 were of persons belonging to other parishes. A table showing the comparison of deaths from zymotic diseases during the past three years, 1874-75-76, gave the following results: Small-pox, 1, 0, o; measles, 20, 23, and 43; scarlet fever, 2, 60, and 81; whoop

on.

ing-cough, 25, 42, and 54 ; diarrhœa, 91, 64, and 73; dysentery, 1, 0, and 3; cholera, 2, 1, and 1; fever, 43, 35, and 18. The remarks made in the last annual report of the complications surrounding the Artisans' Dwellings Act were too true, inasmuch as nothing had been done in those parishes where representations had been made of the unhealthiness of the existing dwellings and the necessity for their removal. In compliance with the directions of the sanitary committee, inspection had been made of the property in the parishes comprising the district, and a report forwarded to the Metropolitan Board of Works detailing the results and putting before the board the existing illnesses in the places commented The report was sufficient to justify the board in acting, and it remained to be seen what steps would be taken both in reference to the report and the subject generally. That a serious evil existed could not be doubted. The improvements carried out at the Pimlico gasworks have been of great advantage, the atmosphere of the neighbourhood of works having been much healthier since their execution. The water-supply, both as to quantity and quality, was considerably improved, and no complaint had been made of its impurities, a great improvement upon the previous year. Nothing having been effected respecting the ventilation of the Scholars-pond Sewer, the attention of the board was again called to the great evil. The only means then adopted consisted in a gas pipe communicating with the sewer, the gas being permitted to escape in a line with the first floor windows of the adjacent houses. It was certainly a crying shame that the Commissioners of Sewers should not be compelled to ventilate the sewers in a proper and efficient manner. Every precaution had been taken against the spread

of disease.

Parliamentary Oroceedings.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

(Thursday, March 8.)

SANITARY STATE OF THE WAR OFFICE. In reply to Mr. Coope,

The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that, with a view to carry out the recommendations of the Committee which had investigated the sanitary condition of the War Office, an estimate had been prepared of the cost of the works which would be necessary in order to put the building in a more satisfactory state, and that, this estimate having been considered and sanctioned by the Treasury, the works would be proceeded with at once. With regard to the opinion of the Committee that a new building was desirable, he could only say that the Government were very seriously considering what steps they ought to take in the matter.

and coroners' inquests, but the Government did not think it wise to introduce it at the present period of the session, when there were so many other measures under consideration.

METROPOLITAN STREET IMPROVEMENTS BILL.

SIR C. RUSSELL asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been called to the proposed demolition of houses occupied by the working classes in the Metropolitan Street Improvements Bill; and, if so, whether he proposes to take measures for the protection of the interests of those to be removed.

Mr. Cross replied that he had placed himself in communication with the Board on the subject, and that they had, as upon all other occasions, shown the utmost willingness to meet his views. He had no doubt, therefore, that they would take care that there should be no destruction of houses before some provision had been made- he would not say for individuals, but for the accommodation of any class of people who might in consequence be sufferers.

(Friday, March 9.)

LOANS FOR SANITARY PURPOSES. MR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply to Mr. Whitbread, stated that the last published returns of loans to urban sanitary authorities showed that the sanction of the Local Government Board had been given to loans amounting to 1,835,797, to urban sanitary authorities. Since that time, although the accounts were not completed for the year 1876, sanction had been given to the urban authorities for the borrowing of 2,506,459., showing an increase of 670,6621. In the case of the rural sanitary authorities the amount, by the last returns, was 137,808/., and during the year 1876, 200, 6927., showing an increase of 62, 284/.

Mr. Whitbread asked if the right hon. gentleman would inform him what had been asked for and not what had been sanctioned.

Mr. Sclater-Booth said that would take some time to ascertain, but he would endeavour to obtain the information.

THE RECENT POLAR EXPEDITION. CAPTAIN PIM asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the report of the committee on the outbreak of scurvy in the recent Polar expedition would be laid upon the table of the House, and whether the summary of the same which had appeared in the newspapers might be considered as substantially correct.

Mr. Hunt: The report in question has not yet been presented to the Admiralty, but I have heard from the Chairman of the Committee that he will shortly be able to present it to the Admiralty. As soon as I get it I shall be happy to lay it on the table of the House.

THE LIMEHOUSE SMALL-POX HOSPITALS.

MR. SCLATER-BOOTH, in reply to Mr. Ritchie, said he was informed that the Fulham Small-pox Hospital would be open for the reception of patients immediately, and that of Deptford shortly afterwards, when no further patients would be sent to the Limehouse Small-pox Hospital.

REPRESENTATIVE COUNTY BOARDS.
On the motion to go into committee of supply,

Mr. Clare Read moved that no readjustment of local administration will be satisfactory or complete which does not refer county business, or that relating to the administration of justice and the maintenance of order, to a representative county board.' What he would propose was, that these boards should be composed one-third of magistrates to be appointed by quarter sessions, and two-thirds of members sent direct from the boards of guardians, and he would not limit the choice of the guardians to rate

payers who were not magistrates. He would leave with the quarter sessions the entire administration of justice, and of the police, the county buildings, weights and measures, the appointment of analysts, and the licensing. What he would take from the quarter sessions would be the management of lunatics, bridges, cattle disease, valuation, and registration of voters. New duties, in addition to these, would no doubt be found for the boards. There were, for instance, certain sanitary matters which might very well be referred to these boards. Arterial drainage might also properly come under the cognisance of this board.

Mr. Sclater-Booth said that various Acts of Parliament had created new administrative bodies for carrying into effect union, sanitary, and educational matters. He had stated on a previous occasion that the sanitary areas had become so stereotyped that they must be accepted, if not as final, at least as settling the question to a large extent; and it was impossible that any Government or any House of Commons would endeavour materially to break down the powers which had so recently and by successive Acts of Parliament been conferred. With regard to lunatics, the obligation to provide asylums was imposed on the magistrates, who defrayed the expense out of the county rate, while the maintenance of the patients was charged to the various unions. The Acts of Parliament relating to this subject were very numerous, and it would not, in his opinion, be wise to interfere with them. There were several classes of lunatics that did not find their way into the county asylums, but were distributed in workhouses and elsewhere. In London those classes were controlled by a board of management, whose expenditure fell upon the common fund of the metropolis. Whether the county system should be brought into harmony with the metropolitan was a matter which required careful consideration, and could not be hastily decided, but he certainly felt disposed to say that the maintenance of lunatics should be charged on a wider basis than at present. He asked the House to recollect that when he succeeded in passing the Rivers Pollution Act he reserved to himself the right to re-open the question as to the administration of that measure at any future time, and he would candidly confess that so far as rivers within the county boundary were concerned, he considered the board suggested would be the proper one to put the law into force. Rivers which ran through several counties, however, ought to be managed by a conservancy board, and some measure might hereafter be found necessary for facilitating the setting up of such bodies. He would be most happy to relieve the already overburdened Local Government Board of large masses of the work it now had to perform. If the poor law system were ever revised in a liberal spirit a great deal might be done in this direction; but if decentralisation were carried out, in one respect there would be always great pressure from without to increase the centralising power of the Government in others. The hon. gentleman had spoken with so much moderation that it would be ungracious to ask him to withdraw the resolution he had proposed. The Government would not ask him to withdraw his resolution, but would agree to it.

Mr. Stansfeld said that, in 1871, he passed the Local Government Board Bill, and the policy of that bill was to unite, under the supervision of one department, not only the poor law, but sanitary matters. In 1872 he introduced the Public Health Act, and that constituted as units of local government throughout the country the rural and urban sanitary authorities, and he maintained now that these were the future units of local government.

The resolution was agreed to without a division.

ACCORDING to the last return presented to the Health Committee of the Town Council by the deputy medical officer of health, the number of births in Liverpool during the year 1876 was 20,426, and the deaths 14,347. Fever caused 398 deaths, and small-pox 4,203.

Law Reports.

INFECTED CLOTHING.

L. SAMSON, of Elgin Crescent, Notting Hill, appeared to answer a summons for exposing certain infectious clothing. In December and January several persons had smallpox in the defendant's house, one case-that of a childproving fatal. During that time the washing was regularly sent to the laundress, and to show the danger attending it, the disease was spread to other persons. A soldier, who had been stopping at the house of the laundress on furlough, left on January 15 for Birmingham, and died from small-pox on the 18th, three days afterwards. A woman who washed his clothes was also attacked with the disease. Mr. Harding then said that the vestry had not issued the summons for the purpose of obtaining a heavy penalty, but to show to the public that it is impossible to stamp out an epidemic like small-pox if clothes were sent to be washed in that manner. Mrs. Pain, a laundress of Clifton Street, was called and proved receiving the washing; her daughter and niece, who sorted the clothes, were attacked with small-pox. The defendant, a foreigner, said at first he did not know it was small-pox. Both he and his wife said chloride of lime was used with the clothes before sent out to the laundress. Mr. Bridge had no doubt that the clothes were not disinfected, but as the defendant was a foreigner it would make a difference in the amount of punishment to be inflicted. He fined the defendant 27. and 2s. costs.

HASTINGS WATER.

AT the assizes at Lewes, the case of Hatchard v. Parsons' was tried, au action to recover damages for a libel, to which the defendant pleaded that the alleged libel was published for the public benefit, and was a fair comment upon a matter that affected the public interests. The plaintiff was a clergyman, at the time the alleged libel was published living at St. Leonard's. He was possessed of considerable property at that place, and took an interest in the affairs of St. Leonards and Hastings. The defendant was the proprietor of the Hastings Observer. Some excitement had been created in Hastings during 1874 and 1875 on account of the character of the water-supply, and a good deal of discussion took place in the medical journals. The plaintiff took an opposite view to the town council, and the course adopted by him caused a good deal of dissatisfaction. An article appeared in the defendant's paper which represented the plaintiff as an enemy to the town, and alleged that his object was to ruin the town out of revenge for his plan for improving the water-supply not being carried out; it also alleged that the plaintiff had been the means of causing the articles to appear in the medical journals which were calculated to cause mischief and injury. Mr. Day contended on behalf of the defendant that the article was nothing more than a fair and reason. able comment upon a subject which was of so much importance to the town where the newspaper that contained it was circulated, and that it was published without malice, and in the interest of the public. The jury adopted this view, and returned a verdict for the defendant.

THE HARROGATE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH.

AT the Yorkshire Assizes, on Saturday, March 3, the case of Deville v. the Harrogate Improvement Commissioners, which was an action for salary, was heard before Mr. Justice Lopez. Mr. Seymour, in his opening statement, said that Mr. Deville, whom he represented, was a gentleman who had obtained the degrees of physician and surgeon, and who had filled the most important offices in connection with his profession. He had resided for many years in Harrogate, and had practised as a physician there. In 1841 the Harrogate Improvement Act was obtained and commissioners were appointed. In 1868 they took

steps to apply the Local Government Act of 1858, by which they became, in fact, the Local Government Board for the district. Subsequent to the passing of the Health of Towns Act, 1872, they became the Urban Sanitary Authority, and after the passing of the Health of Towns Act, 1875, were for the first time made a corporation. The learned counsel then read various sections of the Act of Parliament with reference to the appointment of medical officer, one of which stated that when the Local Government Board subscribed a portion of the salary of a medical officer the Urban Sanitary Authority could not discharge that official without the sanction of the Board in London. Dr. Deville was appointed Medical Officer of Health for Harrogate in 1873 under the compulsory provisions contained in the Act of 1872. He discharged the duties of his office with satisfaction down to March 1876, he having continued in office after the passing of the Act of 1875. From time to time the Local Board had claimed from the Board in London contributions towards his salary. When his term of office for 1875-6 had expired he was re-appointed, and the usual form setting forth the qualifications of the person appointed as medical officer was forwarded to the Local Government Board by the Harrogate Improvement commissioners. In answering one of the inquiries it was stated that there was no vacancy in that office. Then followed a letter from the Local Government Board, stating that before they considered the re-appointment of Dr. Deville they desired to be furnished with a copy of his annual report, which the Act of Parliament prescribed he should forward to them. Mr. Bateson, the clerk of the Harrogate Authority, wrote in reply to that, stating that Dr. Deville had been unable, owing to circumstances not under his control, to forward his report. That report was forwarded, and there was sufficient subsequent correspondence with the Local Government Board to show that they had sanctioned his appointment. When Dr. Deville took office he was a member and vice-president of the Yorkshire Association of Medical Officers of Health. This associatiation held a meeting at Leeds on April 26 last. Dr. Deville was requested to read a paper. He saw no objection to do so; as a professional man he thought it his duty to do so. He read a paper, the contents of which he thought he need not go into. It contained some recommendations which would be very beneficial if carried out. It spoke of overcrowding, of the importance of having proper drainage and water-supply, but it contained nothing which was injurious to Harrogate. A report of the paper and a discussion was published in the newspapers, and was seen by the Harrogate Urban Authority. There was no doubt that they were nettled by it, but why should they be? because when a man becanie medical officer of health he did not take his salary as hush money. The Authority wrote to Dr. Deville asking him to attend a meeting to explain his conduct, but he did not do so, and they gave him notice to terminate his connection as their officer. The learned counsel then read a voluminous correspondence which took place between the plaintiff, the defendants (the Urban Sanitary Authority), and the Local Government Board in London. Dr. Deville, the plaintiff, examined by Mr. Cave, said he was a member of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Edinburgh, and of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. He was appointed medical officer to the Harrogate Improvement Commissioners in April, 1873, and fulfilled the duties of the post until April, 1876. The list of queries as to his qualifications produced by Mr. Bellamy, chief clerk to the Local Government Board in London, he had duly signed. In April, 1876, the quarterly report which he should have sent to the Local Government Board was delayed on account of several changes in the officials of the Harrogate Improvement Commissioners, which rendered it impossible for them to get at the necessary documents. The clerk to the Improvement Commissioners then wrote to the Local Government Board in London, stating that he (Dr. Deville) had not sent his report, which had been inquired for, on account of circumstances over