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staff of the infirmary, but it has been the custom if any one ofthe three honorary physicians of the dispensary is appointed tothe infirmary for that officer to resign his dispensary appoint-ment in favour of anyone who is not in general practice, andwho is therefore eligible for the post. If, however, he ispromoted to the full staff of the infirmary before he hassevered his connexion with the dispensary, he will, under thenew rules, be called upon to do so, but in order that thedispensary may not be inconvenienced it has been arrangedthat the resignation need not take place until 12 monthshave elapsed. The only real difficulty arose in connexionwith the appointments at the Association for the Preventionand Care of Tuberculosis, which involves the charge of beds.To meet this special case a new rule is being formulatedwhich will ensure the services of at least one man of

infirmary standing. The general terms of this rule havebeen agreed upon by the board, but as it has not yet beensubmitted to the general body of the governors it must notbe discussed here at present.

Jan. 3rd. _________________

BRISTOL AND THE WESTERN COUNTIES.(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Bristol School for Mothers.ABOUT a year ago the foundation of a School for

Mothers " in St. Philip’s, an East-end district of Bristol, wasannounced in these columns. The first report, which hasjust been issued, is a distinctly encouraging record. Theschool, which has been founded on the lines of the well-known institution in St. Pancras, is open every Friday after-noon in the Broad Plain Girls’ Club House. Mothers bringtheir children for advice as to feeding and such matters, andclasses of a simple and practical kind are held. The workis done by a staff of voluntary workers in conjunction withDr. Annie Cornall. A provident club for women expectingconfinement has been started. So far it is not considered

necessary to provide dinners for nursing mothers, though afew who are ill-nourished are receiving suitable meals

privately in a neighbouring restaurant. Dr. D. S. Davies,the medical officer of health, takes an interest in the workand gives valuable support and help. In the year that is

completed 99 mothers have attended the school and the workis expanding steadily.

Christmas in the Bristol Hospitals.As-usual, Christmas was by no means forgotten in the

various hospitals of Bristol. The Christmas-tree celebrationsare so arranged that they are held on different days at thedifferent institutions, so that the public is enabled to allotits moral and financial support evenly. This year Miss

Hayes, the Lady Mayoress, acted as distributer of presentsat the Royal Infirmary, while Lady Howell Davies and Mrs.T. C. May performed a like office for the General Hospital,and the.Hon. Mrs. Irby at the Children’s Hospital.

Bristol University Colston Society.The twelfth annual dinner of the Colston Society is to

take place on Monday, Jan. 16th, in the large hall of theUniversity. Sir Alfred Hopkinson, Vice-Chancellor of theVictoria University of Manchester, will be the guest of theevening. The circular letter from the President, Mr. J. H.Howell, announcing this, states that the society wishes toraise its annual contribution to the University funds fromZ450 to P,1000 ; to this end he appeals for new subscribersand larger subscriptions. The society proposes to establish aUniversity Colston Fund for industrial, agricultural, andpublic health research, to be administered by a committeerepresenting the society and the University Senate, which shalldecide on the scope and direction of the grants to be made. Such work would, of course, be carried on within the precincts and under the auspices of the University.

2’lte Bristol General Hospital.Lord Winterstoke has given £5000 to the special fund

which is being raised for the extension of the Bristol GeneralHospital.,

Interesting Function at the Bridg7vater Hospital. After the annual meeting of the subscribers of the Bridg-

water Hospital, which was held on Dec. 21st last under thepresidency of Mr. E. Jardine, M.P., Mrs. Jardine unveiled in

the hall of the institution two memorial brasses which havebeen erected in memory of the late Dr. W. L. Winterbothamand Dr. F. J. C. Parsons, two members of the honorary medicalstaff. Mrs. Jardine afterwards uncovered a bust of the lateDr. Jonathan Toogood, who founded the charity about acentury ago.New Isolation Wing for tlte Weston super-Mare Hospital.On Dec. 20th last a new isolation block, which has been

recently added to the Weston-super-Mare Hospital, was

formally opened in the presence of a large gathering. The

building contains two wards, each of which will accom-modate two patients, and a nurse’s room, bathroom, kitchen,&c., have also been erected. The cost of the undertakinghas been over iE1500, and this sum has been generously givenby Mr. R. H. Hooker of Weston-super-Mare.

District Medical Officers and Old Age Pensioners.Some discussion has recently taken place in reference to

the duties of district medical officers and the attendance ofold age pensioners. At the last meeting of the Tavistook(Devon) board of guardians it was reported that some of thedistrict medical officers were prepared to attend old agepensioners without any application being made through therelieving officer, whilst others stated that they should requireorders from the relieving officers.

Tlte Devon and Cornwall Sanatorium for Consumptives,Didworthy.

At a recent meeting of the committee of the DidworthySanatorium it was stated that the council of theKing Edward’s Hospital Fund for London had allocatediE875 to the institution on the condition that 10 bedsshould be reserved during 1911 for patients from theLondon Hospital, Guy’s Hospital, and the City of LondonHospital for Diseases of the Chest.Jan.3rd.

IRELAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENTS.)

Ihe Local Government Board and Dairy Inspection.A FEW weeks ago, as recorded in THE LANCET of

Nov. 19th, 1910, p. 1519, the King’s Bench Divisionunanimously refused the application of the Local Govern-ment Board for a mand’Zm1ls directed to the Kilmallock ruraldistrict council ordering the council to obey the Orderof the Local Government Board regarding the appoint-ment of a veterinary surgeon as inspector of dairiesand cowsheds. Last week the Court of Appeal, con-

sisting of the Lord Chancellor, Lord Justice Holmes, andLord Justice Cherry, unanimously reversed the decision ofthe King’s Bench and directed the order of mandamus toissue. Lord Justice Holmes, in a reasoned judgment, heldthat the Dairies and Cowsheds Order, 1908, was not 1tltra

vires, and also that it was within the power of the LocalGovernment Board to define the qualifications of the inspectorto be appointed, as it had done in this case-namely, that heshould be a qualified veterinary surgeon. Lord Justice Cherrywas not quite confident of the validity of the Dairies andCowsheds Order, but thought it a question which the courtwas not called on to decide. I have not heard whether theKilmallock council intends to take the matter further. Ifnot, the Local Government Board is likely to proceed toenforce the Order on all the councils which up to the presenthave remained obdurate. It was stated in court that no lessthan 156 local authorities had already acted on the Order.

Old Age Pensions and the.Foor-Za7v.With the end of the year 1910 the pauper disqualification

is removed as regards the eligibility for old-age pensions.This week, therefore, will see a large increase in the numberof pensioners. Practically the whole body of old people inreceipt of out-door relief will exchange such relief for theState pension. Out-door relief rarely exceeds a coupleof shillirgs a week, with a ’certain stigma attached.Of the old people in workhouses, however, a much smallerproportion than was expected will claim discharge and apension. Poor-law guardians all over the country are muchsurprised at the unwillingness of the old people in their careto leave the shelter of the workhouse. One board, indeed,has decided to dismiss all inmates entitled to receive apension-a proceeding of more than doubtful legality.