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themselves off as such on honourable practitioners, to theinjury of their practice and of their patients. This is not amere theoretical case. And we advise medical practitionersto be particular in asking all reasonable evidence of state-ments made by persons who are strangers to them. Weoften receive complaints that representations made are notconfirmed by actual experience. It is only fair to the generalbody of gentlemen who lay themselves out for locum tenens’work-many of whom are highly capable men-to useprecautions against those who bring discredit on a mostuseful class. Of course registration is only a legal form ofqualification, and is not more important than evidence as topersonal qualification, for procuring which each practitionermust itely on himself.

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LONDON FIRES.

THE great fire which on Saturday evening last destroyeda large portion of Mr. Whiteley’s premises at Westbourne-grove has once more directed public attention to theundeniable insufficiency of the Metropolitan Fire Brigadefor the important duty which is cast upon it. It is under-

stood that the responsible authorities feel their deficiencymost keenly in the matter of horses; but from the figuresthat have been made public it would seem that the force isnot less under-manned than under-horsed, and that a sub-stantial addition ought to be made forthwith to CaptainShaw’s resources both in men and material. The total forceincludes 589 men. It could hardly be too much to assumethat a score, or say nineteen, of these would at any givenmoment be incapacitated by sickness and the like causes, sothat the whole force available could not be reckoned at morethan 570. Then, again, a deduction of probably one-halfmust be made from this number for men off duty, thusleaving not more than 285 ready to answer a summons. Themen are distributed through fifty-five stations, and if theseare not to be wholly deserted a sufficient force must be leftbehind to average at least two men to each station. Thismodest -provision would demand 110 men, leaving 175 at thedisposal of the superintendent on duty at the fire. Thenumber of men actually mustered at Westbourne-grove issaid to have been 173; so that it would seem not only thatthe entire strength of the force was brought up for theemergency, but also that it was, considering the total

strength of the brigade, a very strong and efficient muster.But, although the men respond well to a summons and dotheir work in admirable style, it is painfully obvious thattheir number is much too small. A second large fire would onSaturday night have greatly overstrained their powers; anda third, had such a misfortune occurred, would have utterlynonplussed Captain Shaw. Such a contingency as thatought not to be beyond the scope of our precautions.

RABIES IN DOGS.

THE report from the Select Committee of the House ofLords on Rabies in Dogs was issued on the 10th inst. Thecommittee believe that while it cannot be absolutelydemonstrated that rabies does not arise spontaneously, yetit is practically proved that subcutaneous inoculation withits virus is the only ascertained means of imparting thedisease. The following are the recommendations of the

committee :-(1) That when rabies is prevalent the muzzleshould be enforced; (2) that the power of the policeconstable should be extended to authorise the slaughter ofstray dogs; (3) that the symptoms of rabies should be en-dorsed on dog licences; (4) that local authorities shouldhave power to order that dogs should wear badges whichmay identify their owners ; (5) that in populous places localauthorities should place restrictions upon dogs generally, Iand especially deal stringently with apparently ownerless I

dogs in their districts; (6) that in the event of its beingconclusively proved that M. Pasteur’s system provides &

preventive remedy, facilities should be afforded for its

application in England. In our next issue we purposedealing at length with the report.

DUTCH FACTORY LEGISLATION.

THE Dutch Government, while prosecuting agitators, hasthought fit to mitigate the cause of agitation by bringingforward laws for the protection of workpeople. Despatchesfrom the Hague announce that the Committee of the SecondChamber advise the restriction of the work of boys and girlsunder sixteen years of age, and urge that young womenunder eighteen should be absolutely forbidden to work atnight or on Sundays. The work-day must be divided bytwo hours’ rest for meals, and the committee also advisesthat women should not be allowed to work till a full monthafter their confinement. Further, there are recommenda-tions dealing with the inspection of factories and workshopsby qualified officials. Laws are proposed to protect thehealth and personal security of workmen, and measures forcreating a reserve fund for old age, deaths, accidents, andillness. How far all these beneficent suggestions will meetwith the approval of the Legislature still remains to b&seen. The agitation prevailing in the country points to thenecessity of some such measures, and doubtless the states-men of Holland will have the wisdom to yield rather thanprovoke a dangerous storm. Already, twelve years agoan important measure was enacted of this description.According to the law of September 19th, 1874, the employ-ment of children under the age of twelve is forbidden.

Exception, however, is made in cases of domestic serviceand farm labour. The penalty for breaking the above lawis a fine of X2 10s. and from one to three months’ im-

prisonment, together or separately. The new proposalsactually before the Dutch Parliament go much further thanthe law of 1874, and undoubtedly the necessity of such

legislation is becoming more and more apparent. The vastsize of the factories, the presence of complicated, sometimesdangerous machinery, and the difficulties under such circum-stances of securing efficient ventilation and drainage, renderit more and more urgent to arm the authorities with theright of interference. It is also desirable that at the sametime a competent staff of inspectors should be organised whopossess scientific and practical knowledge to detect defects,and whose position would place them above the danger ofcorruption. The working classes themselves must also beable to assist in the detection of all defects that tend todeteriorate public health. They, at least, have the practicalexperience of the working success or otherwise of anymeasure introduced; and a little practice is often worthvolumes of theory. In any case, and whatever may be theresult of the present effort, the Commission of the DutchSenate are to be congratulated on the useful initiative theyhave taken.

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CHOLERA IN ITALY.

SINCE cholera first appeared in Calabria early in July,there has been a slow but steady extension of the disease.Rocella was at first the principal seat of the outbreak, butit soon appeared that the cholera which in an early part ofthe year had existed on the eastern coast of Sicily had brokenout again, Catania having for some time past been impli-cated. Gradually the epidemic has extended over most

parts of Sicily, the provinces of Calabria, Caltanicetta, Syra-cuse, Messina, Gergenti, and Palermo being affected. On themainland a number of additional towns on the Calabrian

coast, such as Palmi, Reggio, and Melita, have also been

attacked. Then came news as to the extension of the